Penn State Hydrogen Energy (H2E) Center

Focus

Research on renewable production of hydrogen gas, and advancing development of fuel cell technologies for electrical power generation from hydrogen.

Highlights

  • Penn State has historically had presence as a national leader in technologies related to fuel cells.
  • A hydrogen fueling station is located on the University Park campus (although currently inactive).
  • Penn State is a leader in research on: microbial fuel cells for renewable electricity generation, and microbial electrolysis cells for electrochemical hydrogen production from waste biomass.
  • Cutting edge materials research includes developing non-precious metal catalysts using nickel and phosphorus compounds for the catalyzing electrochemical hydrogen production.

Goals

  • Increase external funding for research in a variety of electrochemical technologies, especially fuel cells.
  • Enhance research on non-precious metal catalysts for water splitting and hydrogen evolution.
  • Focus on technologies and processes that can eliminate the use of fossil fuels for H2 production.
  • Successfully link solar or wind electricity generation with electrochemical H2 and ammonia production (two-stage processes).

Overview

Over 50 billion kg of H2 is used globally, and 20% of that in the US. Nearly all of this H2 is made from fossil fuels, with more than half produced using natural gas. About 53% of the H2 produced is used just to make ammonia for fertilizers using the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process. Changing how we produce and use H2 can have a profound impact on energy sustainability, agriculture, and global climate change. H2 can be a focus point in the energy-water-food nexus. Hydrogen and fuel cell research has increased in the US in recent years, recovering after a large decline in funding over a decade ago, following a shift in the US towards battery research. Globally, the demand for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies has remained strong, as H2 gas is an environmentally friendly fuel in fuel cell vehicles as it produces only water, and thus it is also an excellent method of energy storage.

The H2E Center is the focal point at Penn State for all hydrogen and fuel cell research spanning topics related to: hydrogen production, storage, and utilization; and educational activities that include seminars, classes, and participation in professional societies. Launched in 2000, one notable activity of the H2E Center was “Hydrogen Day”, with the first event held on February 5, 2003, one week after President Bush announced a $1.2 billion investment to fund hydrogen research, education and infrastructure.

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and devices continue to have strong global industrial interest. Hydrogen fuel cell cars can travel 300 miles or more without refueling, and most major automotive companies have vehicles for lease or sale. Hydrogen buses and trucks are a growing sector due to their fast refueling times and often limited travel distances from fueling stations. For example, Anheuser-Busch and Nikola Motor Company recently announced an order for up to 800 hydrogen-electric powered semi-trucks. Forklifts powered by fuel cells are one of the fastest growing hydrogen applications due to their short refueling time and ability to operate indoors with no emissions other than water. The industrial growth of hydrogen fueled technologies will drive the need for increased education and research in these areas.

Funding sources for research by members of the H2E Center include the Department of Energy (DOE), National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), National Science Foundation (NSF), Air Products and Chemicals Inc., KAUST, US Filter, and others. Current research activities at Penn State include:

  • High temperature fuel cells
  • Proton exchange membranes for hydrogen fuel cells
  • Catalysts for hydrogen gas production
  • Hydrogen fuel cell demonstrations: fueling station, fuel cell buses, fuel cell performance
  • Microbial fuel cells for electricity production from waste biomass
  • Bioelectrochemical hydrogen gas production using microbial electrolysis cells, with an emphasis on plant-based feedstocks
  • Hydrogen gas for environmental remediation of pollutants
  • Electrochemical research that can enable ammonia production without the need for the Haber-Bosch process (or to augment this process)

Strategic Planning

The greatest future impact of the H2E Center can be through focusing on electrochemical technologies, specifically in renewable hydrogen gas production to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from current methods reliant on fossil fuels. The emergence of cheap solar power at costs of $0.03/kWh (comparable to natural gas, and less expensive than other fossil fuels), and the rapid growth of wind power (~7% of US electricity production) has the potential to radically change the hydrogen market. Inexpensive but intermittent solar power requires efficient energy storage technologies, and producing hydrogen gas using solar power and storing it for use in fuel cells could be an effective solution.

The Penn State H2E Center should promote and enhance activities in electrochemistry and electrochemical engineering, as foundations for advancing scientific and engineering education and research. Key strategic needs are:

  • Faculty hires in the area of electrochemistry and electrochemical engineering (through the Electrochemistry Strategic initiative)
  • Fostering collaborative research on solar-to-hydrogen conversion, storage, and use through seed grants and Foundation funding
  • Increasing materials research on water splitting and hydrogen evolution catalysts and processes through seed grants
  • Building expertise in electrochemistry, particularly in water electrolyzers, hydrogen-evolving catalysts, and hydrogen storage
  • Demonstrating H2 technologies using hydrogen fuel cell vehicles
  • Improving our global profile in the hydrogen and fuel cell areas, primarily through building expertise in renewable hydrogen technologies and focusing on the importance of hydrogen in ammonia production
  • Emphasizing H2 as a focal point in the water-energy-food nexus

List of participants

  • Primary contact
    • Prof. Bruce Logan
  • Participants (partial)
    • Joel Anstrom
    • Moses Chan
    • John Golbeck
    • Derek Hall
    • Michael Hickner
    • Bruce Logan
    • Sergei Lvov
    • Tom Mallouk
    • Jay Regan
    • Chunshan Song
    • Raymond Schaak
    • Chao-Yang Wang

Education and Outreach

  • Minor: Electrochemical Engineering (https://www.eme.psu.edu/academics/undergraduate/minors-options/elche-minor)
  • Courses
    • EGEE 420 ,Hydrogen and Fuel Cells
    • EME 570 (MATSE 570), Catalytic materials
    • ME 403, Polymer electrolyte fuel cell engines
    • EGEE 441 Electrochemical engineering fundamentals
    • EME 407, Electrochemical Energy Storage
    • CHEM 445 Electrochemistry and chromatography
    • CHEM 524, Electroanalytical chemistry
  • Outreach activities: Hydrogen Days

Supplemental Information

Website: https://h2e.psu.edu
Location (virtual): Directed by Prof. Bruce Logan, 212 Sackett Building