With support from EERE, researchers at Virent Inc. in Madison developed new cost-effective methods to produce hydrogen from renewable resources like biomass-derived sugar and sugar alcohols. Hydrogen can be used with fuel cells to produce clean, efficient power with water as the only by-product. Conventional hydrogen-generating processes require three or more reaction steps, and use non-renewable fossil fuels. The new aqueous phase reforming process (APR) can generate hydrogen from sugar and sugar alcohols in a single-step catalytic reactor process. Because APR employs liquid feedstocks, rather than high temperature compressed gas feedstocks, it has the potential to be less costly than conventional generating processes.

Positive Impact

Hydrogen and fuel cells can be used to produce clean, efficient power. New aqueous phase reforming process uses liquid feedstocks to produce energy from hydrogen with reduced costs.

Locations

Wisconsin

Partners

Virent Inc.

EERE Investment

$1.9 million

Clean Energy Sector

Sustainable transportation

The Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) conducts comprehensive efforts to overcome the technological, economic, and institutional barriers to the widespread commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cells. 

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) success stories highlight the positive impact of its work with businesses, industry partners, universities, research labs, and other entities.