Hydrogen Technologies and Systems Center
NREL's Hydrogen Technologies and Systems Center is helping facilitate the transition to a new energy future—a future built on diverse and abundant domestic renewable resources and integrated hydrogen systems. Managed by Chris Gearhart, the center is organized according to the three groups described below.
Hydrogen Technologies Group
The Hydrogen Technologies Group coordinates and integrates NREL's hydrogen and fuel cell research and development activities. Managed by Bryan Pivovar, the group focuses on the following areas:
- Fuel cells—Improving fuel cell performance by developing extended surfaces for catalysts, enhancing catalyst supports, and investigating the effects of system contaminants
- Fuel cell manufacturing—Improving high-volume manufacturing of fuel cells, with a focus on sensor development, fuel cell component defects, and modeling to help industry improve manufacturing processes
- Hydrogen production—Developing advanced conversion technologies for producing hydrogen from renewable energy sources such as biomass, solar, and wind.
Hydrogen Analysis Group
The Hydrogen Analysis Group identifies cost-effective pathways and analyzes tools to transform the fossil fuel market to a renewable energy market. Managed by Jennifer Kurtz (acting), the group focuses on the following areas:
- Analysis—Providing direction and support for the development and introduction of hydrogen systems by evaluating related technical, economic, environmental, and integration issues
- Technology Validation—Validating hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles and refueling infrastructure in real-world conditions, with a focus on durability, efficiency, and safety
- Education—Increasing public knowledge about hydrogen and fuel cell technologies via outreach events, websites, and other educational resources.
Safety, Codes, and Standards Group
Managed by Carl Rivkin, the Safety, Codes, and Standards Group aims to ensure the safe operation, handling, and use of hydrogen via the development of codes and standards for buildings, components, systems, and vehicles. Safety, codes, and standards projects focus on testing components, systems, and sensors; analyzing fuel quality specification data; and harmonizing domestic and international codes and standards development.
Learn More
Learn more about NREL's hydrogen and fuel cell research projects. These efforts support the Fuel Cell Technologies Program at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
