The Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is active in teaming with academic and industrial partners to advance hydrogen technology.  SRNL has one of the largest hydrogen technical staffs in the country consisting of over 90 scientists and technologists devoted to researching, developing, and demonstrating all aspects of hydrogen technology including production, storage, sensors, and effects on materials.  The primary focus of SRNL's R&D has been hydrogen storage using conventional metal and lightweight complex hydrides. SRNL has done extensive hydrogen technology R&D and demonstration projects including advanced hydrogen storage materials, storage vessel design and optimization, chemical hydrides, metal hydride compressors and separators, and hydrogen production using nuclear energy.

Aiken County operates the Center for Hydrogen Research (CHR).  This 60,000 square foot facility is dedicated to hydrogen research and development.   SRNL and its regional partners occupy this facility under a lease agreement to continue ongoing efforts in hydrogen storage, separation, sensors and production technology development.  Part of the facility is available as a user-facility to encourage collaborative efforts with other scientists from industry, academia and other government agencies. 

Hydrogen Storage

The SRNL Hydrogen Technology Laboratory has over 50 years working with the handling and storage of hydrogen for its defense mission.  Engineers and scientists have been active in research and development activities for various hydrogen storage materials such as metal and complex hydride materials including alanates, borohydrides and carbon nanotube materials for lightweight applications to meet advanced hydrogen storage demands.

Hydrogen Production and Delivery

 SRNL led a team to perform a study of hydrogen production using nuclear energy for the Department of Energy, Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI); the team analyzed the key aspects of nuclear hydrogen production, with particular emphasis on the hydrogen infrastructure issues.

SRNL is currently working on the development of a Hybrid Sulfur (HyS) process for hydrogen production.  The major challenges for the development of the HyS Process are associated with the development of an efficient, cost-effective electrochemical reactor. The reactor is a sulfur dioxide-depolarized water electrolyzer (SDE).  SRNL has accomplished a long duration run (>100 hours) and the design and construction of a multi-cell stack.  Ongoing research will address cell improvement and component development, including the use of advanced membranes for the electrolyzer.

Hydrogen Technology Demonstrations

Regenerative Fuel Cell System for Backup Power Applications, SRNL is working with the CHR and industrial partners to develop and demonstrate a combination electrolyzer and fuel cell system coupled with a solid-state hydrogen storage device.  The system is being evaluated for cell tower, uninterruptible power supplies and other small-scale backup power applications.

H2Fuel Bus, Demonstrated the world's first hybrid hydrogen electric transit bus.  It achieved double the range of the all electric vehicle and twice the energy efficiency of a diesel bus. The hydrogen IC engine had virtually zero emissions.  

Industrial Fuel Cell Vehicle, Two fuel cell vehicles (John Deere GATOR'S) running on direct hydrogen stored in a metal hydride system were developed and demonstrated.  The objective was to offer the small industrial vehicle sector an alternative to limited-range, battery-electric vehicles.