Hydrogen Week Highlight: DOE Collaboration Strengthens Connections Between Fundamental and Applied Science in Clean Hydrogen

In recognition of National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office and the Office of Science are highlighting H2LinkSC—a unique approach to strengthen connections between fundamental and applied science in hydrogen across the DOE national laboratories.

H2LinkSC connections are being established in various ways. One example is by giving lab researchers working on DOE initiatives such as the Hydrogen Energy Earthshot, Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs), and the Energy Earthshot Research Centers (EERCs) the opportunity to propose and socialize novel ideas on how to maximize coordination and collaboration to accelerate research.

"Supporting the rapid emergence of America’s clean energy economy—and the clean hydrogen economy specifically—requires an all-hands-on-deck approach," said DOE Under Secretary for Science and Innovation Dr. Geri Richmond. "H2LinkSC serves a crucial role in building connections between various research teams to catalyze and jointly improve fundamental and applied science approaches. These connections enhance and accelerate research, development, and demonstration outcomes and are vital to achieving our nation’s clean energy mission."

Selected H2LinkSC projects focus on the synergies between fundamental and applied science to improve the performance and durability of next-generation electrolysis and move the clean hydrogen economy closer to DOE’s Hydrogen Shot goal of $1 per kilogram of hydrogen in one decade.

Learn more about H2LinkSC and related projects.

This article is part of a week-long celebration of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, held annually on October 8 in recognition of hydrogen's atomic weight of 1.008.