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

Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies Program

Past Program Solicitations

DOE's Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Infrastructure Technologies Program selects research and development and other projects through open and competitive procurements. Past solicitations are listed here.

• Hydrogen
• Fuel Cells
• Safety, Codes & Standards

Hydrogen

H-Prize Funding Opportunity Announcement is Out for Prize Administrator

The DOE Hydrogen Program has released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) in support of the H-Prize (Section 654 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007). Through the H-Prize, DOE will competitively award cash prizes to advance the research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of hydrogen energy technologies.

Through this FOA, DOE seeks to identify an organization that will serve as an "Administering Entity" to implement the H-Prize. The first H-Prize will be in the area of Hydrogen Storage. Note that this FOA is not for the Prize itself, but rather for the organization that will work with DOE to implement the Prize. Total estimated funding available for the Administering Entity is $1.3M (including $1M for the first prize), pending Congressional Appropriations, with an expectation of one selected project of three years duration. Applications for this FOA must be accessed, completed, and submitted through IIPS and Grants.gov to be considered for award. This funding opportunity is now closed.

Hydrogen Storage Engineering Center of Excellence

In February 2008, the HFCIT Program requested applications to fund one multidisciplinary Hydrogen Storage Engineering Center of Excellence (CoE) team to research and develop onboard vehicular hydrogen storage systems and components that will allow for a driving range of greater than 300 miles while meeting vehicular packaging, safety, cost and performance requirements. This work complements the work of existing independent projects and the three materials-based hydrogen storage CoEs (adsorbents, metal hydrides, and chemical hydrogen storage materials). Funding opportunity is DE-PS36-08GO98006. This solicitation is now closed.

Research and Development for On-Board Vehicular Hydrogen Storage

In January 2008, the Department of Energy issued a solicitation for applied research and development projects addressing viable hydrogen storage technologies for on-board vehicular applications to complement the existing National Hydrogen Storage Project portfolio. Projects may support existing DOE Hydrogen Storage Centers of Excellence or may be independent R&D projects. The total funding available for all new awards is $6 million.

Additional information for industry, academia, and other interested parties is offered via funding opportunity DE-PS36-08GO98004P. Additional information for national laboratories is offered via funding opportunity DE-PS36-08GO98005P. This solicitation is now closed.

Hydrogen Education Awards Announced

The Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies (HFCIT) Education Subprogram recently awarded a solicitation to the following entities, under the three topic areas:

The HFCIT Education subprogram issued this funding opportunity in October 2007 to seek to facilitate near-term market transformation and future commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cells by providing technically accurate and objective information to key target audiences. For more information about this closed solicitation (DE-PS36-08GO98000), please visit the opportunity announcement.

SBIR Hydrogen, Fuel Cells, and Infrastructure Technologies

DOE issued a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I funding opportunity notice that included a hydrogen, fuel cells, and infrastructure technologies topic.

The SBIR subtopic are:

1. Hydrogen from waste
2. Development of a sulfur dioxide electrolyzer for the hybrid sulfur hydrogen production process
3. Bio-fueled solid oxide fuel cell
4. Manufacturing of bipolar plates.

Phase I grants up to $100,000 were competitively awarded for evaluating the commercial potential of various technologies. This solicitation is now closed.

Manufacturing R&D for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Systems (DE-PS36-07GO97012)

In support of the Advanced Energy Initiative, DOE seeks to fund manufacturing research and development (R&D) for hydrogen and fuel cell systems. This funding opportunity announcement focuses primarily on technologies that are near commercialization and includes the following topic areas:

• Alternative Electrode Deposition Processes
• Gas Diffusion Layer Fabrication
• Novel MEA Manufacturing
• Process Modeling for Fuel Cell Stacks
• Process and Device for Cost Effective Testing of Cell Stacks
• Manufacturing Technologies for High Pressure Composite Tanks Applications

Total estimated funding available is $38M, pending Congressional Appropriations, with an expectation of about 15 selected projects and an individual award ceiling of $4M. More information. This solicitation is now closed.

Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Analysis: Environmental Impacts of Hydrogen Systems (DE-PS36-07GO97011)

DOE seeks to fund a project to study the potential environmental effects from increased emissions of hydrogen and criteria pollutant emissions avoided or gained through the expansion of hydrogen use in the transportation and stationary power markets. The purpose of the study will be to systematically identify and examine possible near- and long-term ecological and environmental effects of the production of hydrogen from various energy sources as well as the use of that hydrogen as a transportation fuel and for stationary power. Precise systems-based engineering models of the likely hydrogen and criteria pollutant emissions will be developed and the potential impacts of the different market penetration scenarios will be quantified.

All types of entities are eligible to apply, except other Federal agencies, Federally Funded Research and Development Center contractors, and nonprofit organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995.

Total estimated funding available is $600,000 pending Congressional Appropriations, with an expectation of one selected project of two years duration. This solicitation is now closed.

Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Analysis: Lessons Learned from Stationary Power Generation (DE-PS36-07GO97010)

DOE seeks to fund a project to study the challenges of previous stationary power programs and to use the lessons learned from these programs to develop a strategy for stationary hydrogen systems. The study will systematically incorporate both the stationary and the transportation sectors and define the various trade-offs, synergies, and opportunities for increased hydrogen fuel cell use in stationary markets.

All types of domestic entities, including DOE/NNSA national laboratory contractors—except other federal agencies and non-DOE Federally Funded Research and Development Center contractors—are eligible to apply.

Total estimated funding available is $500,000 pending Congressional Appropriations, with an expectation of one selected project of two years duration. The solicitation is now closed.

Research and Development for Hydrogen Production and Delivery Technology (DE-PS36-07GO97009)

In support of the Advanced Energy Initiative, DOE seeks to fund hydrogen production and delivery research and development focused in the following areas:

• Hydrogen Compression
• Hydrogen Off-Board Bulk Storage
• Hydrogen Liquefaction
• Hydrogen Production through Electrolysis.

All types of domestic entities, including DOE/NNSA national laboratory contractors—except other federal agencies and non-DOE Federally Funded Research and Development Center contractors—are eligible to apply.

Total estimated funding available is $19.3M, pending Congressional Appropriations, with an expectation of about 11 selected projects, each of 1 to 3 years duration. More information. This solicitation is now closed.

Hydrogen Funding Opportunity for Small Businesses

In September 2006, DOE issued a Small Business Innovation Research Phase I funding opportunity notice that included a hydrogen component focusing on off-board bulk hydrogen storage, hydrogen liquefaction, hydrogen compression, and photoelectrochemical hydrogen production.

Phase I grants up to $100,000 will be competitively awarded for evaluating the commercial potential of various technologies. This funding opportunity is now closed.

Research and Development for On-Board Vehicular Hydrogen Storage (DE-PS36-06GO96003F, DE-PS36-06GO96012F)

In support of the President's Hydrogen Fuel Initiative, DOE seeks to fund the research and development of viable hydrogen storage technologies for on-board vehicular applications.

This funding opportunity announcement follows a preliminary application phase that took place in 2006. The final application is by invitation only.

Final applications are requested in the following two categories:

Category 1: Applications are sought for projects that support and complement activities of the existing Hydrogen Storage Centers of Excellence in Metal Hydrides, Chemical Hydrogen Storage, and Carbon Based Materials. Such projects must help establish important new technical approaches or capabilities not presently available at the centers.

Category 2: Applications are sought for independent research and development projects that address one of three technical topics: 1) materials discovery; 2) engineering science; or 3) systems, safety and environmental analyses.

This solicitation contains both an industry/university and a national laboratory component. More information for industry, universities, and others is available via funding opportunity number DE-PS36-06GO96003F. More information for national laboratories is available via funding opportunity number DE-PS36-06GO96012F. This solicitation is now closed.

Effects of a Transition to a Hydrogen Economy on Employment in the United States (DE-PS36-06GO96024)

The use of hydrogen as an energy carrier will bring about significant changes in the United States. During the transition to the hydrogen economy, it is expected that new employment will be generated as a result of the growth of the hydrogen industry, which is likely to impact the current workforce in all energy-related industries. To fully understand the effects a transition to the hydrogen economy will have on industry and employment in the United States, DOE is seeking proposals to conduct a careful analysis of both emerging hydrogen technologies and the legacy technologies that will be displaced. Consideration must be given to the full energy cycle, including the harvesting of feedstocks, the conversion of that feedstock to a usable fuel, the delivery of fuel to the consumer, and the consumption of the fuel by the consumer. Each step of this cycle has requirements for goods and services that dictate the nature and number of jobs that are needed. The workforce that fills these requirements must have the appropriate skills and training to ensure products are competitive in the national and international markets. More information is available via funding opportunity number DE-PS36-06GO96024 on DOE's E-Center. This solicitation is now closed.

Research and Development for On-Board Vehicular Hydrogen Storage

The Department of Energy issued a solicitation for applied research and development projects addressing viable hydrogen storage technologies for on-board vehicular applications. Projects may support existing DOE Hydrogen Storage Centers of Excellence or may be independent R&D projects in specific technical topic areas such as materials discovery; engineering science; new synthesis, characterization, and testing techniques; and analysis. The total funding available for all new awards is $6 million.

Additional information for industry, academia, and other interested parties is offered via funding opportunity number DE-PS36-06GO96003P. Additional information for national laboratories is offered via funding opportunity number DE-PS36-06GO96012P. This solicitation is now closed.

Renewable Hydrogen Production and HCNG Bus Demonstration (DE-PS36-06GO96010)

The Hydrogen Transportation Partnership Beijing 2008—a public/private collaboration featuring government participants from the U.S. and China as well as international representatives from the automotive, energy, and technology sectors—aims to advance research, development, and demonstration of fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen fueling infrastructure. Toward that effort, the partnership will build the Beijing Hydrogen Transportation Park to demonstrate hydrogen-based transportation technologies at the 2008 Olympic games. As part of the U.S. contribution, DOE is seeking proposals related to the installation of a renewable hydrogen production facility and a demonstration of buses powered by hydrogen and natural gas. This solicitation is now closed.

Fuel Cells

Research, Development, and Demonstration of Fuel Cell Technologies for Automotive, Stationary, and Portable Power Applications

In May 2008, DOE issued a solicitation to fund projects for RD&D of fuel cells, in the following topic areas:

• Catalyst Studies
• Innovative Concepts
• Fuel Cell Degradation Studies
• Transport within the PEM Stack
• Portable Power
• Fuel Cell System Demonstrations
• Market Transformation Activities

Total estimated funding was $130M, pending Congressional Appropriations, with an expectation of up to 50 selected projects. A minimum 20 percent private sector cost share was required for the R&D projects and a minimum 50 percent applicant cost share was required for the demonstration projects.

Additional information, including application information, for national laboratories was offered through the Industry Interactive Procurement System (IIPS). Additional information, including application information, for industry, academia, and other interested parties was offered through grants.gov.

VERY IMPORTANT: To complete and submit applications through Grants.gov, there are several actions you must complete (e.g., obtain a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, register with the Central Contract Registry (CCR), install the PureEdge Viewer, register with the credential provider, and register with Grants.gov). Applicants are highly encouraged to register as soon as possible and should allow at least 21 days to complete the registration process. When done, call the Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1.800.518.4726 to verify successful registration. Registration Instructions are found on the Grants.gov web site at http://www.grants.gov/ and in the Funding Opportunity Announcement.

Applications were due on or before August 27, 2008. This solicitation is now closed.

Fuel Cells R&D

DOE issued a fuel cell research and development solicitation that will provide funding of up to $100 million over four years to support the President's Hydrogen Fuel Initiative. Cost and durability are major challenges to fuel cell commercialization and achieving a hydrogen economy. During this phase of research, DOE seeks to advance fuel cell technology toward technical performance and cost targets set for 2010, which have been developed through the FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership.

Note: This solicitation contains both an industry and a national laboratory component. Proposals are sought in the following topic areas: improved fuel cell membranes, water transport within the stack, advanced cathode catalysts and supports, cell hardware, innovative fuel cell concepts, and effects of impurities on fuel cell performance and durability. A stationary fuel cell demonstration topic area also seeks proposals involving international and intergovernmental partnerships. This opportunity is open to nonprofit and for-profit private entities, institutes of higher education, state and local governments, and government laboratories.

More information for industry, academia, and other interested parties is available via funding opportunity number DE-PS36-06GO96017 on DOE's E-Center. Information for national laboratories is available via funding opportunity number DE-PS36-06GO96018. This solicitation is now closed.

High Temperature, Low Relative Humidity Polymer-Type Membranes (DE-PS36-05GO95020)

Current polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) used in fuel cells depend on the presence of water to obtain high proton conductivity. Therefore, fuel cells based on these membranes are limited to operating temperatures of 60-80°C and require external humidification to maintain optimum performance. Maintaining these temperatures under automotive conditions, especially at peak power, requires over-sized cooling equipment. In addition, the humidification requirements add increased volume, weight, and complexity to the system. These issues would be reduced or eliminated if the fuel cell could be operated at higher temperatures (approximately 120°C) and at lower humidity (i.e., 25-50% RH).

The Department of Energy invites applicants to develop high temperature, low relative humidity polymer electrolyte-type membrane materials suitable for use in a polymer electrolyte-type membrane fuel cell. Development of alternative materials that perform at 120°C and 25-50% relative humidity is desired. DOE anticipates up to 10 new awards in this topic area. The applicant required cost share for this topic area is 20% over a 5 year project period, with a Go/No-Go decision point after the 3Q Year 3. A second topic area under this solicitation is to lead research and development for the High Temperature Low Relative Humidity Program. The total federal funding available for all awards under this solicitation is approximately $17.5 million over a 5-year period. This solicitation is now closed.

High Temperature Solid Oxide Technologies Research (DE-PS36-05GO95019)

High temperature solid oxide technologies have the potential to provide low-cost and highly efficient distributed production of electricity and hydrogen. This announcement seeks innovative materials and pilot-scale system design research in solid oxide electrochemical technology for the co-production of hydrogen and electricity and also electricity storage through closed and open system regenerative fuel cells. The technology application is targeted for distributed co-production ranging from small systems (~5 kilowatts) up to automobile refueling station scale applications (~1000 kilowatts). System integration with renewable energy resources such as biomass, solar, and geothermal is encouraged. Designs that present opportunities for increased overall system efficiency are preferred.

Work under this announcement will cover two topic areas: (1) research and development focusing on materials and pilot-scale system development (up to 2 kilowatts), and (2) a hydrogen and electricity co-production demonstration (up to 2 kilowatts) to be located in Alaska at a suitable non-residential site. For both topic areas either the prime applicant or a partner must be an organization located in Alaska. The Applicant may choose to propose a project in one of the two topic areas or a project that encompasses both topics. All topic areas will evaluate the potential to achieve a delivered hydrogen cost of $2.85 per gallon gasoline equivalent (gge) when modeled in a 1000 gge per day hydrogen production system. All cost analysis will be performed using DOE Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies Program H2A Model and included Multi Year RD&D Plan Table for electrolysis. Delivered hydrogen cost modeling for both topic areas does not require the development of a complete hydrogen fueling system (e.g., compression and dispensing). This solicitation is now closed.

Safety, Codes and Standards

Codes & Standards for the Hydrogen Economy

The Department of Energy is sponsoring a national effort by industry, government, and standards and model code development organizations to prepare, review, and promulgate the codes and standards needed to expedite the development and use of hydrogen, fuel cells, and infrastructure technologies. To facilitate this process, DOE is seeking applicants to partner with it in leading the coordination effort with the relevant codes and standards development organizations and to support information dissemination to technology developers/implementers and local code officials. For more information, visit DOE's E-Center. This solicitation is now closed.