The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office receives appropriations from Energy and Water Development. The office's major activities and budget are outlined below.

Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (thousands of dollars)

Fuel Cell R&D

In collaboration with partners, research and develop technologies to overcome the most critical technical hurdles for fuel cell components for stationary, portable, and transportation applications. Critical technical hurdles include cost, durability, efficiency, and overall performance of components such as the polymer electrolyte membranes, oxygen reduction electrodes, advanced catalysts, bipolar plates, etc.

FY2006: $33,336; FY2007: $55,633; FY2008: $60,419; FY2009: $80,068; FY2010: $75,609; FY2011: $41,916; FY2012: $43,556; FY2013: $41,266; FY2014: $32,423; FY2015: $32,063; FY2016: $33,962; FY2017: $30,832; FY2018: $30,832; FY2019: $28,905; FY2020: $25,051

Hydrogen Fuel R&D

Hydrogen Production and Delivery R&D: Research and develop advanced technologies for producing and delivering hydrogen. Feedstocks include natural gas and renewables; technology areas include processes and techniques such as reforming, separating, purifying, compressing, and delivering hydrogen.

Hydrogen Storage R&D: Develop and demonstrate compressed hydrogen tanks for near-term storage of hydrogen and advanced materials for long-term hydrogen storage systems.

FY2006: $34,431; FY2007: $67,430; FY2008: $80,978; FY2009: $67,823; FY2010: $45,750; FY2011: $32,122; FY2012: $33,785; FY2013: $31,682; FY2014: $34,466; FY2015: $34,155; FY2016: $39,763; FY2017: $39,649; FY2018: $52,029; FY2019: $37,576; FY2020: $43,357

Hydrogen Infrastructure R&D

Hydrogen Infrastructure R&D: R&D focused on innovative materials to improve durability and lower cost of infrastructure technologies, enable step-change improvements in the cost of hydrogen delivery at scale, and on reducing the cost of infrastructure components and systems (e.g., fueling delivery technologies, pipelines, liquefaction systems).

FY2019: $20,234; FY2020: $24,088

Systems Analysis

Systems analysis will assess cross-cutting and overall hydrogen system issues and support the development of production, delivery, storage, fuel cell, and safety technologies.

FY2006: $4,787; FY2007: $9,637; FY2008: $11,099; FY2009: $7,520; FY2010: $5,408; FY2011: $3,000; FY2012: $2,925; FY2013: $2,838; FY2014: $3,000; FY2015: $3,000; FY2016: $3,000; FY2017: $2,890; FY2018: $2,891; FY2019: $1,927; FY2020: $2,891

Safety, Codes and Standards

Support the development of applicable codes and standards for hydrogen production and delivery processes, as well as hydrogen storage technologies for both transportation and stationary applications. Activities also include development of safety sensors and safety analysis.

FY2006: $4,595; FY2007: $13,492; FY2008: $15,442; FY2009: $12,238a; FY2010: $8,653; FY2011: $6,901; FY2012: $6,893; FY2013: $6,808; FY2014: $6,909; FY2015: $6,901; FY2016: $6,906; FY2017: $6,781; FY2018: $6,745; FY2019: $6,744; FY2020: $9,763

Technology Acceleration

Manufacturing R&D: Research and develop manufacturing processes to reduce the cost and enhance the reliability of critical components and systems, with a focus on distributed production and delivery, on-board vehicle storage, and polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.

Technology Validation: Validate component R&D in a systems context under real-world operating conditions to quantify the performance and reliability, document any problem areas, and provide valuable information to researchers to help refine and direct future R&D activities related to fuel cell systems and hydrogen infrastructure.

Market Transformation: Accelerating the use of fuel cell technologies in early market applications supports demonstration and helps build a domestic manufacturing and supplier base. It also expands the growth of the green job market, with new opportunities in manufacturing, fuel cell maintenance and support systems, and hydrogen production.

FY2006: $33,301; FY2007: $41,341; FY2008: $34,438; FY2009: $24,016a; FY2010: $32,877; FY2011: $11,908; FY2012: $13,928; FY2013: $13,251; FY2014: $11,720; FY2015: $16,911; FY2016: $12,948; FY2017: $17,963; FY2018: $18,307; FY2019: $20,234; FY2020: $40,307

Education

Develop and distribute training and education materials about fuel cells and hydrogen production, delivery, storage, and safety processes. Activities support technology early adoption efforts.

FY2006: $495; FY2007: $1,978; FY2008: $3,865; FY2009: $4,200a; FY2010: $2,000; FY2011: $0; FY2012: $0; FY2013: $0; FY2014: $0; FY2015: $0; FY2016: $0; FY2017: $0; FY2018: $0; FY2019: $0; FY2020: $0

NREL Site-Wide Facilities Support

Support research programs by providing basic site services, functions, and infrastructure for site operations.

FY2014: $1,000; FY2015: $1,800; FY2016: $1,900; FY2017: $0; FY2018: $0; FY2019: $0; FY2020: $0
Congressionally Directed Activities Total: FY2006: $42,520; FY2007: $0; FY2008: $0
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Total: FY2006: $153,451; FY2007: $189,511; FY2008: $206,241; FY2009: $195,865; FY2010: $170,297; FY2011: $95,847; FY2012: $101,087; FY2013: $95,845; FY2014: $89,518; FY2015: $94,830; FY2016: $98,479; FY2017: $98,115; FY2018: $110,804; FY2019: $115,620; FY2020: $145,457

a In 2009, Safety, Codes and Standards; Education; and Technology Validation were part of the Vehicle Technologies Office, but the funds are included in here.

Learn about the hydrogen and fuel cell budget for the four Department of Energy (DOE) offices that participate in the DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program.