Argonne National Laboratory is embarking on a new project to build a state-of-the-art research and development facility dedicated to independently testing large-scale hydrogen fuel cell systems. With funding from the US Department of Energy (DOE), this initiative aims to assess the viability of hydrogen fuel cells for heavy-duty and off-road applications.
The DOE is leveraging Argonne’s extensive experience in fuel cell research, dating back to 1996, to evaluate new polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell systems ranging from 150 to 600 kilowatts. These systems will be tested for use in industrial vehicles and stationary power generation applications.
The new facility at Argonne will play a crucial role in validating hydrogen as a viable fuel for various transportation applications, including heavy trucks, railroad locomotives, marine vessels, and heavy machinery used in agriculture, construction, and mining. Ted Krause, laboratory relationship manager for Argonne’s hydrogen and fuel cell programs, highlighted the significance of the facility: “The facility will serve as a national resource for analysis and testing of heavy-duty fuel cell systems for developers, technology integrators, and end-users in heavy-duty transportation applications.”
The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) of DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is providing approximately $4 million in funding for the new Argonne facility, which is expected to be operational next fall. This testing infrastructure will not only advance fuel cell performance but also facilitate the integration of fuel cell technology into a wide range of transportation applications.
