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Hydrogen technologies for energy storage: A perspective

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An Erratum to this article was published on 01 December 2020

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Abstract

Hydrogen is a versatile energy storage medium with significant potential for integration into the modernized grid.

Advanced materials for hydrogen energy storage technologies including adsorbents, metal hydrides, and chemical carriers play a key role in bringing hydrogen to its full potential.

The U.S. Department of Energy Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office leads a portfolio of hydrogen and fuel cell research, development, and demonstration activities, including hydrogen energy storage to enable resiliency and optimal use of diverse domestic energy resources.

Today, the technology around generating and storing efficient and sustainable energy is rapidly evolving and hydrogen technologies offer versatile options. This perspective provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office's R&D activities in hydrogen storage technologies within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, with a focus on their relevance and adaptation to the evolving energy storage needs of a modernized grid, as well as discussion of identified R&D needs and challenges. The role of advanced materials research programs focused on addressing energy storage challenges is framed in the context of DOE's H2@Scale initiative, which will enable innovations to generate cost-competitive hydrogen as an energy carrier, coupling renewables, as well as nuclear, fossil fuels, and the grid, to enhance the economics of both baseload power plants and intermittent solar and wind, to enhance resiliency and avoid curtailment. Continued growth and engagement of domestic and international policy stakeholders, industry partnerships, and economic coalitions supports a positive future outlook for hydrogen in the global energy system.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge their colleagues in the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, particularly Sunita Satyapal, Katie Randolph, David Peterson, Zeric Hulvey, Neha Rustagi, and Jesse Adams. Additionally, the authors acknowledge Tom Autrey at the Pacific National Laboratory and Rajesh Ahluwalia and Dionissios Papadias at Argonne National Laboratory for input and analysis on hydrogen carriers. The views and opinions of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.

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  1. KeyLogic Systems, Morgantown, West Virginia, 26505, USA

    Marika Wieliczko

  2. US Department of Energy, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Washington, District of Columbia, 20585, USA

    Ned Stetson & Marika Wieliczko

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  1. Ned Stetson
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Correspondence to Ned Stetson.

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Stetson, N., Wieliczko, M. Hydrogen technologies for energy storage: A perspective. MRS Energy & Sustainability 7, 41 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1557/mre.2020.43

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