The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has been chosen by the US Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) program to lead research on enhanced natural hydrogen production.
NREL is among 16 teams selected by the DOE ARPA-E program to receive funding totaling $20 million. These projects aim to explore natural hydrogen production and reservoir management, spanning across eight states and involving collaborations between businesses, national labs, and universities. The overarching goal is to advance hydrogen production methods that are both low in emissions and cost-effective, aligning with President Biden’s ambitious climate targets while creating new economic opportunities.
Led by Texas Tech University in partnership with NREL, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Rio Tinto, and Lavoisier H2 Geoconsult, NREL’s project focuses on hydrogen production from iron-rich mafic and ultramafic rocks. The research seeks to stimulate hydrogen production through mechanical, chemical, and biological processes, aiming to characterize the rock-water-hydrogen system and explore methods to enhance hydrogen generation rates.
NREL’s project includes a microcosm experiment to study the interaction between rocks, water, and hydrogen. Researchers will investigate strategies to inhibit microbial uptake of hydrogen and assess the potential of biocatalysts to boost hydrogen production rates. Furthermore, the team plans to facilitate tech-to-market efforts once the viability of natural hydrogen production is established, paving the way for practical applications in various sectors.
According to NREL research scientist Dayo Akindipe, natural hydrogen production holds significance due to its potential to alleviate the energy-intensive nature of current hydrogen production methods. By deriving hydrogen from iron-rich rocks, this research aims to offer a cleaner and more sustainable pathway for hydrogen production, applicable across industrial, chemical, and transportation sectors.
