DOE contributes $4.7M to increase hydrogen turbine performance and minimize costs

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) announced nearly $4.7 million in funding for six projects to advance the development of ceramic-based materials to enhance the efficiency of hydrogen-fueled turbines that may one day be used in clean power plants.

The goal of the Biden-Harris Administration is to achieve a zero-carbon U.S. electricity sector by 2035. Carbon capture and storage prior to combustion will help achieve this goal.

“Investing in research and development to increase hydrogen turbine efficiency will not only help bring down electricity costs, but can ultimately help to ramp up the use of hydrogen as a low-carbon fuel for power production, providing cleaner energy for all Americans,” said Brad Crabtree, Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management.

The selected projects under this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) will focus on the research and development (R&D) of ceramic matrix composite (CMC) components, which enable hydrogen turbines to run at higher working temperatures, hence increasing cycle efficiency.

Specifically, this research and development will enable operation at temperatures 150 degrees Celsius higher than current CMC technology and 450 degrees Celsius higher than nickel-based materials currently allow, while reducing the amount of cooling air necessary. These enhancements will increase turbine efficiency, resulting in cheaper energy costs and decreased greenhouse gas emissions as pure hydrogen replaces natural gas as the turbine’s fuel source.

The selected projects will be managed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) of the Department of Energy (DOE). Here is a detailed listing of the selected projects.

FECM finances research, development, demonstration, and deployment initiatives for decarbonizing power generation and industrial output, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and mitigating the environmental consequences of fossil fuel extraction and usage.

Priority technological fields include carbon capture, carbon conversion, carbon dioxide removal, carbon dioxide transit and storage, hydrogen production with carbon management, methane emissions reduction, and vital mineral production. Visit the FECM website, sign up for FECM news alerts, and visit the NETL website for additional information.