U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Fuel Cell Technologies Program

Budget

The Fuel Cell Technologies Program receives appropriations from Energy and Water Development. The program's major activities and budget are outlined below.

Fuel Cell Technologies Program—thousands of dollars
Hydrogen Production and Delivery R&D	Research and develop advanced technologies for producing and delivering hydrogen. Feedstocks include natural gas and renewables; technology areas include processes and techniques such as reforming, separating, purifying, compressing, and delivering hydrogen. FY2006: $8,391; FY2007: $33,702; FY2008: $38,607; FY2009: $10,000; FY2010: $15,000
Hydrogen Storage R&D	Develop and demonstrate compressed hydrogen tanks for near-term storage of hydrogen and advanced materials for long-term hydrogen storage systems. FY2006: $26,040; FY2007: $33,728; FY2008: $42,371; FY2009: $59,200; FY2010: $32,000
Fuel Cell Stack Components R&D	In collaboration with partners, research and develop technologies to overcome the most critical technical hurdles for fuel cell stack components for both stationary and transportation applications. Critical technical hurdles include cost, durability, efficiency and overall performance of components such as the polymer electrolyte membranes, oxygen reduction electrodes, advanced catalysts, bipolar plates, etc. FY2006: $30,710; FY2007: $37,100; FY2008: $42,344; FY2009: $62,700; FY2010: $62,700
Technology Validation	Validate component R&D in a systems context under real-world operating conditions to quantify the performance and reliability, document any problem areas, and provide valuable information to researchers to help refine and direct future R&D activities related to fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen infrastructure. FY2006: $33,301; FY2007: $39,413; FY2008: $29,612; FY2009 (in Vehicle Technologies Program): $14,789; FY2010: $13,097
Transportation Fuel Cell Systems	Conduct R&D and analysis activities that address key barriers, including cost and reliability, to fuel cell systems for transportation applications. Activities support the development of individual component technology critical to systems integration, as well as systems-level modeling activities that guide R&D activities, benchmark systems progress, and explore alternate systems configurations on a cost-effective basis. FY2006: $1,050; FY2007: $7,324; FY2008: $7,718; FY2009: $6,600; FY2010: $3,201
Distributed Energy Fuel Cell Systems	Develop high-efficiency fuel cell power systems as an alternative power source to grid-based electricity for buildings and other stationary applications. Activities focus on overcoming the barriers to stationary fuel cell systems, including cost, durability, heat utilization, startup time, and managing power transients and load-following requirements. FY2006: $939; FY2007: $7,257; FY2008: $7,461; FY2009: $10,000; FY2010: $11,410
Fuel Processor R&D	Develop on-board fuel processors as an alternative to the direct hydrogen approach for transportation and stationary applications. FY2006: $637; FY2007: $3,952; FY2008: $2,896; FY2009: $3,000; FY2010: $171
Safety, Codes & Standards	Support the development of applicable codes and standards for hydrogen production and delivery processes, as well as hydrogen storage technologies for both transportation and stationary applications. Activities also include development of safety sensors and safety analysis. FY2006: $4,595; FY2007: $13,492; FY2008: $15,442; FY2009 (in Vehicle Technologies Program): $12,500; FY2010: $8,839
Education	Develop and distribute training and education materials about fuel cells and hydrogen production, delivery, storage, and safety processes. Activities support technology early adoption efforts. FY2006: $495; FY2007: $1,978; FY2008: $3,865; FY2009 (in Vehicle Technologies Program): $4,200; FY2010: $2,000
Systems Analysis	Systems analysis will assess cross-cutting and overall hydrogen system issues and support the development of production, delivery, storage, fuel cell and safety technologies. FY2006: $4,787; FY2007: $9,637; FY2008: $11,099; FY2009: $7,713; FY2010: $5,556
Market Transformation	Accelerating the use of fuel cell technologies in early market applications supports commercialization and helps build a domestic manufacturing and supplier base. It also expands the growth of the green job market, with new opportunities in manufacturing, fuel cell maintenance and support systems, and hydrogen production. FY2006: $0; FY2007: $0; FY2008: $0; FY2009: $4,747; FY2010: $15,026
Manufacturing R&D	Research and develop manufacturing processes to reduce the cost and enhance the reliability of critical components and systems, with a focus on distributed production and delivery, on-board vehicle storage, and polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. FY2006: $0; FY2007: $1,928; FY2008: $4,826; FY2009: $5,000; FY2010: $5,000
Congressionally Directed Activities Total: FY2006: $42,520; FY2007: $0; FY2008: $0
Hydrogen Technology Total: FY2006: $153,451; FY2007: $189,511*; FY2008: $206,241*; FY2009: $200,449; FY2010: $174,000

* FY2007 and FY2008 totals exclude Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding.

Learn about the hydrogen and fuel cell budget for the four Department of Energy (DOE) offices that participate in the DOE Hydrogen Program and the Department of Transportation.