In support of the Obama Administration's all-of-the-above strategy to develop clean, domestic energy sources, the Energy Department announced a $4.5 million investment in two projects to lower the cost, improve the durability, and increase the efficiency of next-generation fuel cell systems.

 

Over the last decade, the Energy Department has invested in research and development projects to improve the efficiency and lower the costs of fuel cells. This research has helped decrease, for example, the amount of platinum used in catalysts by a factor of five and reduced the costs of transportation fuel cells by more than 80% since 2002.

 

Building on these efforts, the projects announced today will continue research and development work aimed at making cost-effective, high-performing fuel cell membranes that can operate under hotter and drier conditions. For example, 3M will receive $3 million to focus on developing innovative fuel cell membranes with improved durability and performance using processes which are easily scalable to commercial size. The Colorado School of Mines will receive $1.5 million to develop advanced hybrid membranes for cutting edge, next-generation fuel cells that are simpler and more affordable and able to operate at higher temperatures.