The August 2016 issue of the Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) newsletter includes stories in these categories:

In the News

Energy Department Awards 43 New Business-Laboratory Collaborations under Small Business Vouchers Pilot: Includes 10 Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Projects

The Energy Department announced 43 small businesses will participate in the second round of the Small Business Vouchers (SBV) pilot. With vouchers in hand, these businesses can better leverage the world-class capabilities of the department's national laboratories and bring their next-generation clean energy technologies to the marketplace faster. Ten projects in the area of hydrogen and fuel cells are aimed at reducing the costs and improving the performance of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, such as finding ways to lower costs of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), a critical component of fuel cell stacks and electrolyzers. Some of these collaborations will explore using lower cost materials, reducing the quantity of pricey raw material required, and developing better and more precise methods in manufacturing MEAs.

DOE's Fuel Cell Technologies Office Celebrates the National Park Service Centennial

On August 27, the Energy Department's Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) celebrated the Department of the Interior's National Park Service Centennial at America's Front Yard Family Festival. There visitors could stop by to learn more about hydrogen fuel cells and see a Toyota Mirai. The two agencies recently partnered to open a hydrogen refueling demonstration station that uses cutting-edge renewable hydrogen generation technologies right here in DC. The station, located at a National Park Service site, is enabling fuel cell electric vehicle demonstrations at federal agencies in the Capital region. Though not a public station, advances demonstrated through this project will enable public retail stations of the future.

Follow EERE on Facebook for More News

Sign up today to follow EERE on Facebook and receive news from all of EERE's offices, including the Fuel Cell Technologies Office.

Funding Opportunities and Requests for Information

FY17 SBIR Phase I Release 1 FOA Released: Includes Fuel Cell Catalysts and Hydrogen Delivery

DOE has announced the 2017 Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Phase I Release 1 Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), including two subtopics focused on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. The fuel cell subtopic includes novel, durable supports for low-platinum group metal catalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. The hydrogen delivery subtopic focuses on metal hydride materials for compression. The letter of intent is due September 6, 2016, by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and the application is due October 17, 2016, by 11:59 p.m. EDT.

Webinars and Workshops

Webinar August 30: International Infrastructure

FCTO presented a live webinar on Tuesday, August 30, 2016, entitled "International Hydrogen Infrastructure Update." This webinar introduced the current status of the technology in several countries, including Japan and Germany. Several perspectives on global hydrogen refueling infrastructure initiatives were provided. See slides from the webinar. A recording will be posted soon.

Visit our website to see webinar archives or workshop presentations.

Studies, Reports, and Publications

Sustainable Transportation Summit H2USA Session Meeting Proceedings

FCTO has published the Sustainable Transportation Summit H2USA Session, Track 5 Meeting Proceedings. The proceedings summarize the discussion from the three panels featured in the FCTO-led H2USA session on July 12: H2USA Overview and Working Group Chairs, The Hydrogen Supply Perspective, and The H2 @ Scale Concept Presentation and Perspectives.

Stay tuned for a weeklong celebration leading up to National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day on October 8, aptly chosen to represent the atomic weight of hydrogen (1.008).