US Department of Energy's $8.8 Million Investment in Advancing Hydrogen Turbine Technology
Key Ideas
- The U.S. DOE is providing $8.8 million to 11 university-based projects to enhance hydrogen turbine performance, supporting clean energy goals and job creation.
- The funded projects aim to develop advanced materials and components for gas turbines to enable the use of clean hydrogen, aligning with the Biden-Harris Administration's climate targets.
- Materials research, applied research, and risk assessment on hydrogen-fueled turbines are key focus areas of the funded projects to advance the adoption of low-carbon fuels.
- The investment is part of FECM's efforts to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen production and improve hydrogen infrastructure to accelerate the transition to a net-zero emissions economy.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management has allocated $8.8 million to support 11 university-led research projects focused on enhancing the performance of hydrogen-fueled turbines. These initiatives aim to develop advanced materials and components essential for withstanding the extreme conditions generated during hydrogen combustion in gas turbines. The ultimate goal is to facilitate the utilization of up to 100% clean hydrogen in gas turbines for low-carbon power generation, aligning with the Biden-Harris Administration's targets of achieving 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035 and a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
Brad Crabtree, the Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, emphasized the significance of advancing hydrogen turbine technology to promote the use of low-carbon fuels and address climate goals. The selected projects encompass fundamental materials research, applied research on turbine components, and risk assessment related to material fatigue and stresses in engines operating on hydrogen fuels.
The investment also aims to support the growth of robust supply chains and job creation in the power and industrial sectors. Through the DOE's Hydrogen Shot initiative, which aims to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen production, FECM has committed approximately $147 million since January 2021 to various clean energy projects. The projects focus on developing new methods for hydrogen production and enhancing the performance of hydrogen-fueled turbines.
By prioritizing technology areas such as carbon capture, hydrogen production, and methane emissions reduction, FECM seeks to minimize environmental impacts and work towards achieving net-zero emissions in the U.S. economy. The management of the selected projects will be overseen by DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory, further emphasizing the commitment to advancing clean energy technologies and infrastructure.