Thursday 3 November 2022

New public-private partnership for clean hydrogen launched

A new public-private partnership aimed at solving the challenges of producing clean energy at low cost and converting hydrogen to energy in an efficient way has been launched.

The Chemours Company made the announcement of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership (CHP), co-developed with the University of Delaware, that brings the US Department of Defense, the University of Delaware, Plug and the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) together to tackle the issue.

The CHP will drive research focused on lowering the cost and acceleration of green hydrogen and fuel cells by enabling the discovery of innovative materials, stack designs and manufacturing improvements.

The research results will be tested in the new Centre for Clean Hydrogen, claimed to be a first-of-its-kind facility, that enables real-world testing of new components at scale.

It supports the DOE”s Hydrogen Shot, which seeks to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen by 80% to $1 (£0.88) per one kilogram in one decade.

Senator Tom Carper, chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee said: “Our planet is on fire, and if we want to combat the existential threat of climate change and position our economy for the future, we need to ensure that we are creating a nurturing environment for clean energy production.

“Clean hydrogen has a critical role to play in strengthening our country’s industrial sector and moving us closer to net zero emissions by 2050. I am proud to help secure the funding for this partnership. Together, we can combat the biggest threat to our society today and grow our economy at the same time.”

Students and post-doctoral employees from the university will gain experience with stack and component assembly, as well as electrical, mechanical and chemical engineering skills that are required to operate the equipment safely, helping to build the next-generation clean energy workforce.

https://twitter.com/UDResearch/status/1582814590169100290

University of Delaware President Dennis Assanis added: “Through the new Center for Clean Hydrogen, University of Delaware leading researchers will collaborate with their peers in industry and government to develop breakthrough innovations and shape the talent and workforce to leapfrog into the future.

“UD faculty and students will discover new ways to accelerate the energy transition by reducing the cost of clean hydrogen and related technologies. The Center will be a real game-changer in clean energy research as a catalyst for positive impact on our planet.”