DEEE0011339

The main objective of this project is to further develop Avium's catalyst technology to achieve 2 A cm-2 at =1.7 V on a 100 cm2 liquid alkaline (LA) electrolyzer.

To achieve this objective we will perform three parallel tasks:

(1) Optimize catalyst growth onto electrodes and LA separator for manufacturing high current density SEAs,

(2) 3D-model-driven design of catalyst-coated mesh electrode and elastic flow element geometry to balance catalyst active area with maintaining high mass transfer and 3D utilization,

and (3) develop an in situ catalyst regeneration protocol to maintain an effective degradation rate of =2.1 mV/khr to enable a 100,000 h lifetime at 2 A cm-2.

The objective for budget period 1 is to develop a 15 cm2 single-cell flow-through electrolyzer that can achieve 1.95 V at 2 A cm-2.

The objective for budget period 2 is to develop a 100 cm2 single-cell flow-through electrolyzer that can achieve 1.85 V at 2 A cm-2 and demonstrate the capability to re-deposit catalysts and recover performance after a 50 mV decrease in cell voltage.

The objective for budget period 3 is a 100 cm2 single-cell electrolyzer that can achieve 2 A cm-2 at =1.70 V with the capability to regenerate after 50 mV loss of performance from accelerated start/stop cycles and meet an effective degradation rate of =2.1 mV khr-1 to enable >100,000 h lifetime.

This is also the overall objective for this project.

Avium

ACHIEVING NET-ZERO EMISSIONS ECONOMY-WIDE BY 2050 POSES PARTICULAR CHALLENGES FOR HARD-TO-DECARBONIZE SECTORS WHERE ELECTRIFICATION WITH CLEAN ELECTRICITY WILL BE TECHNICALLY OR ECONOMICALLY DIFFICULT. THESE SECTORS INCLUDE STEEL MANUFACTURING, MEDIUM- AND HEAVY-DUTY TRANSPORTATION, AND PRODUCTION OF CHEMICALS AND LIQUID FUELS. HYDROGEN AND FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGIES ARE PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE PORTFOLIO OF SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES, AND DOE’S H2@SCALE® VISION ILLUSTRATES THE PROMISING PATHWAYS FOR HYDROGEN TO ENABLE THE DECARBONIZATION OF MULTIPLE SECTORS. HYDROGEN IS A UNIQUE AND FLEXIBLE ENERGY CARRIER THAT CAN BE PRODUCED FROM A VARIETY OF CLEAN ENERGY RESOURCES, AND IT CAN COMPLEMENT EXISTING ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR MULTIPLE END-USE APPLICATIONS. DOE RECENTLY PUBLISHED THE DRAFT DOE NATIONAL CLEAN HYDROGEN STRATEGY AND ROADMAP, WHICH WAS ALSO REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 40314 OF THE BIL, AS A NEW SECTION 814 OF EPACT 2005. THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS A TECHNOLOGICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE NATIONAL STRATEGY AND ROADMAP TO FACILITATE WIDESPREAD AND LARGE-SCALE PRODUCTION, PROCESSING, DELIVERY, STORAGE, AND USE OF CLEAN HYDROGEN, IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE H2@SCALE® VISION. THE STRATEGY AND ROADMAP OUTLINES STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES TO PRODUCE 10 MILLION METRIC TONS (MMT) OF CLEAN HYDROGEN IN THE UNITED STATES ANNUALLY BY 2030, 20 MMT PER YEAR BY 2040, AND 50 MMT PER YEAR BY 2050. IT INCLUDES THREE KEY STRATEGIES: (1) TARGETING HIGH-IMPACT USES FOR CLEAN HYDROGEN, (2) FOCUSING ON REGIONAL NETWORKS, AND (3) REDUCING THE COST OF CLEAN HYDROGEN. THIS FOA, WHICH WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH APPROPRIATIONS MADE BY THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT, PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE THIRD STRATEGY—WITH AN EMPHASIS ON REDUCING THE LIFECYCLE COSTS OF TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, STORAGE, DELIVERY, AND USE OF CLEAN HYDROGEN.”

81.087 - Renewable Energy Research and Development

Golden Field Office (GFO) [DOE - EERE]

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) [DOE]

Lawrence, Kansas United States

City-Wide

DE-FOA-0002922