Grant: Strategic Projects - Group

The hydrogen and renewable energy pathway provides the promise of being one of the only comprehensive long-term solutions to improvement of energy efficiency, energy sustainability and security, reduction of greenhouse gases and urban pollution. Canada has been a world leader in the research and development of fuel cell and hydrogen technology and is in an excellent position to exploit and benefit from this leadership. The proposed research project will focus on closing some of the significant technology gaps that exist today with the use of sustainable fuels and fuel cells. This includes issues with fuel cell operating conditions, reliability and material cost, as well as hydrogen and alternative fuel infrastructure, conversion of other renewable fuels to hydrogen and energy storage. This research project focuses on three linked and closely related areas: (1) Development of an intermediate temperature (100-300oC), ceramic-based, proton conducting electrolyte fuel cell with associated materials; (2) Integration of metal hydride hydrogen storage into the fuel cell; (3) Development of a processor for hydrogen production, purification and compression. This involves the development of new advanced materials and new approaches to hydrogen storage and processing. This technology addresses a number of the issues for conventional solid oxide and polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cels, and allows new approaches to fuel storage and processing. It is anticipated that this research will help to provide a basis and direction for future approaches to fuel cell technology and hydrogen processing and storage.