The Department of Energy (DOE) is stepping up its effort to support the development of commercial fuel cells for use in the transportation and power generation industries via $4.2 million in new grants that will be matched with $1.2 million in private funding.
DOE secretary Spencer Abraham said those monies will fund 10 grants at resolving obstacles to fuel cell use – most notably the costs of components and unit size, especially for vehicular use.
“The President envisions fuel cells playing a prominent role in the economy and everyday life,” Abraham said. “For that to occur, we have to reduce the costs of fuel cell acquisition and use.”
Goals for fuel cell use include primary and auxiliary power to support car, truck and aircraft systems involved in personal, mass, and commercial transportation.
