Hydrogen Research and Development

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its partners are overcoming the challenges of incorporating hydrogen into the U.S. energy system. The H2@Scale concept at DOE explores the potential for wide-scale hydrogen production and use across energy sectors. Major categories of DOE-sponsored research and development (R&D) in hydrogen are listed below.

Hydrogen Production

Hydrogen production R&D is important to make hydrogen cost-competitive with conventional fuels while minimizing the environmental impacts of production. Learn more about hydrogen production R&D activities from the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office.

Hydrogen Delivery

R&D helps improve technologies to distribute hydrogen cost-effectively from the point of production to the point of end-use, such as in fuel cell vehicles.

Learn more about hydrogen delivery R&D activities from the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office.

Hydrogen Storage

R&D is important to improve technologies so fuel cell electric vehicles can store enough hydrogen onboard to enable a driving range of at least 300 miles without taking up excessive space or adding excessive weight.

Learn more about hydrogen storage R&D activities from the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office.

Fuel Cells and Vehicles

Hydrogen fuel cell R&D aims to reduce fuel cell system costs and size and to improve the performance and durability of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell systems for transportation and for small stationary and portable applications. Research for hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles is important to develop technologies that advance fuel cell systems, subsystems, and components.

Learn more about fuel cell R&D activities from the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office.

Manufacturing

Hydrogen manufacturing R&D is important to help the United States move from today's components and systems to high-volume, commercially manufactured products.

Learn more about fuel cell manufacturing R&D from the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office.

R&D at National Laboratories

Many DOE national laboratories perform hydrogen and fuel cell R&D:

Also learn about hydrogen fueling infrastructure development.