Staff Writer
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced up to $4.6 million in funding for four projects to develop advanced hydrogen storage materials. Advanced hydrogen storage systems will be critical to the widespread commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
- Ames Laboratory of Ames, Iowa, will receive up to $1.2 million to investigate the development of novel, high-capacity, silicon-based borohydride/graphene composite hydrogen storage materials produced through mechanochemical processes. If successful, this project will develop reversible, high-capacity hydrogen storage materials.
- The California Institute of Technology in Pasadena will receive up to $1 million to develop novel new high-capacity hydrogen sorbents — materials used to absorb liquids or gases — based on high-surface-area graphene. Improved sorbents with higher volumetric capacity will make hydrogen sorbent systems a more viable option for practical applications.
- Texas A&M University in College Station will receive up to $1.2 million to develop new, low-cost hydrogen sorbents that have high hydrogen sorption capacities that exceed the “Chahine rule,” the expected hydrogen adsorption per unit of surface area.
- The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor will receive up to $1.2 million to develop “best-in-class” hydrogen sorbent materials, with a focus on achieving simultaneously high volumetric and high gravimetric densities. This project is expected to lead to further improvements in hydrogen sorbent systems for onboard vehicle use.
2G Cenergy launched a dedicated hydrogen-fueled combined heat and power (CHP) system at an energy station within the Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt Airport in Germany. The hydrogen gas storage system at the airport uses a magnesium hydride technology for solid storage. The system, developed by McPhy Energy in Grenoble, France, is considered a breakthrough in terms of safe hydrogen storage.
