WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for up to $130 million over three years to advance the development and use of fuel cells for vehicle, stationary, and portable power applications.

John Mizroch, principal deputy assistant secretary for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, said, “Hydrogen fuel cell research and development is a critical component of our comprehensive strategy to commercialize and deploy advanced clean, renewable technologies that will allow us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and become less reliant on carbon-based fossil fuels.”

In addition to seeking proposals for R&D projects, DOE is also seeking proposals to demonstrate fuel cells in distributed energy systems and to support market transformation that provide real-world operation data. The agency anticipates making up to 50 awards through this competitive funding opportunity, which is open to industry, universities, and national laboratories. With a minimum 20 percent private sector cost share for the R&D projects and a minimum 50 percent applicant cost share for the demonstration projects, the total DOE and private sector investment in fuel cell technologies under this funding opportunity may exceed $170 million.

Applications are due on or before Aug. 27, 2008, with funding subject to appropriations from Congress. For more information, visit the Hydrogen Program Website at www.hydrogen.energy.gov.

Publication date:06/09/2008