MADISON, WISCONSIN – Acting Under Secretary of Energy David K. Garman today announced the department has awarded Virent Energy Systems, LLC, of Madison, Wisconsin $1,942,739 for research in support of the President’s Hydrogen Fuel Initiative. Under Secretary Garman announced the award during a visit to the Technology, Education and Commerce Incubator Center.
In last year’s State of the Union address, President Bush communicated his vision that, “the first car driven by a child born today could be powered by hydrogen, and pollution-free.” The research project announced today addresses major technical and economic hurdles in renewable and distributed hydrogen production technologies that must be overcome to make the President’s vision a reality.
“The project we are announcing today highlights the emphasis that the department has placed on renewable production of hydrogen. It will move the nation toward advanced technologies that use renewable energy sources to make and deliver safe, affordable hydrogen for fuel cell powered vehicles,” Acting Under Secretary Garman said.
“Hydrogen from diverse domestic resources has the long-term potential to deliver greater energy independence by reducing America’s reliance on foreign sources of energy, Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham said.
Work resulting from the award is expected to increase the United States’ leadership in hydrogen technology. The project was chosen through a merit-review, competitive solicitation process.
Award Announced Today
Virent Energy Systems, LLC (Madison, WI) will develop a one step process for reforming (i.e. chemically converting) biomass liquids into hydrogen for small scale distributed systems. Small-scale distributed reforming systems could be used at existing gasoline stations thereby eliminating the need for a substantial hydrogen transport and delivery infrastructure. The research focuses on reforming a liquid solution directly, rather than changing it to a gas before converting it to hydrogen. This direct conversion process saves energy and reduces equipment costs, thereby lowering the cost of producing hydrogen. This project could result in a breakthrough in distributed reforming of bio-liquids such as glycerol and provide a renewable-based option for hydrogen production during a transition to wide-spread use of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Media contact: Tom Welch, 202/586-5806
