Hydrogen storage has always involved trade-offs. Storing it as a gas is cheap, but it doesn’t hold much energy. Liquid hydrogen is denser and more energy-packed, but the process to liquefy it is expensive and energy-intensive.
LLNL and Verne, with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s ARPA-E program, have developed a system that cools and compresses hydrogen at the same time—without turning it into a liquid. This cryo-compression process can reduce energy use by about 50% compared to traditional liquefaction methods.
With U.S. electricity demand expected to rise by 800 terawatt hours by 2030—thanks to growth in data centers and electric vehicles—energy systems need to be more scalable and flexible. Hydrogen, converted to electricity via fuel cells or turbines, could help fill the gap.
The new method achieved high hydrogen densities (over 60 grams per liter) by compressing gas at -314°F (81 K) and 350 bar pressure—close to liquid levels but with far less energy required.
Verne estimates the technology could cut hydrogen transport costs by up to 40%, making it more competitive for sectors like logistics, construction, ports, and warehousing.
It also supports a decentralized distribution model. Instead of relying on massive liquefaction plants, companies could use smaller, local hubs—putting production closer to where hydrogen is actually used.
The original concept was developed at LLNL in the late 1990s by researcher Salvador Aceves. In 2020, Verne was launched at Stanford to commercialize the idea, bringing Aceves on board as an advisor. Since then, the team has worked closely with LLNL to refine and scale the tech.
This collaboration shows how government-backed research can drive private-sector innovation—potentially speeding up the hydrogen transition and creating real-world impact.
