United States
Other Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Activities within the Department of Energy
Office of Science
The Office of Basic Energy Sciences within the DOE Office of Science supports fundamental scientific research addressing critical challenges related to hydrogen storage, production, and fuel cells; and the Office of Biological and Environmental Research conducts basic research on the biological production of hydrogen. These basic research efforts complement the applied research and development projects supported by other offices in the Program.
Office of Fossil Energy
The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) conducts RD&D of large-scale, centralized, efficient hydrogen production from coal with carbon sequestration, including advanced technologies to reform high-hydrogen-content, coal-derived carriers; advanced processes and technologies to produce lower-cost hydrogen; and technologies to integrate carbon sequestration (capture and containment and/or reuse) with fossil-based hydrogen production systems. FE is also conducting an effort in solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) called the Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA). This program is aimed at reducing the cost and improving the performance of SOFCs, primarily for use in larger, megawatt-scale, near-zero emissions stationary-power applications.
Office of Nuclear Energy
The Office of Nuclear Energy conducts RD&D of centralized, low-cost production of hydrogen using nuclear energy, including high-temperature electrolysis and sulfur-based thermochemical cycles.