Citation
(2007), "Hydrogen follow-on research project", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 79 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2007.12779bab.025
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Hydrogen follow-on research project
Hydrogen follow-on research project
Proton Energy Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of Distributed Energy Systems Corp., recently announced that it has been awarded a $2.3 million contract for a hydrogen- technology-oriented follow-on research project. The study, awarded by the University of Nevada Las Vegas Research Foundation (UNLVRF), enables the company to continue to examine advanced proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis technology research and is funded by a grant to UNLVRF from the US Department of Energy. The University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) Center for Energy Research (CER) will also collaborate on this project.
The new research grant will allow Proton to focus on critical technology improvements such as increased system and cell stack efficiency, reduced costs through scale-up and manufacturability assessments, and improving the technology to directly interface renewable electricity sources to the PEM electrolyzer. Proton is a leader in on-site hydrogen generation systems and other advanced energy storage technologies.
Speaking on behalf of the UNLVRF, Bud Pittinger, its Executive Director, said: “This research is essential in advancing the use of hydrogen and reducing the USA's dependence on foreign sources of energy. By improving efficiency and costs, hydrogen will become widely accepted and utilised. We are grateful for Senator Harry Reid's support in furthering hydrogen research and development.”
UNLV's Vice President for graduate studies and research, Dr Mark Rudin, said: “UNLV is pleased to have such a prestigious hydrogen research and development firm as a partner on this project. Our researchers, faculty and students will have access to highly skilled experts in electrolyzer technology.”
“We believe this latest award will result in further significant advancements in our PEM electrolysis technology, allowing us to focus our research and development on key operational product capabilities,” said Robert Friedland, Proton's Senior Vice President and Head of the Hydrogen Technology Group. “This welcome extension of our relationship with the talented and innovative team at UNLV enables our company to continue to play a role in finding innovative solutions to the nation's energy problems, and it will also showcase what we believe are the distinctive benefits of our proprietary technologies.”
The University of Nevada Las Vegas Research Foundation, a non-profit affiliate of the University of Nevada Las Vegas, was established in 2001 to facilitate commercialisation of products and services resulting from UNLV faculty research, promote the scope of its research programs, and establish and implement strategies to stimulate economic growth and regional diversification originating from its research. The Foundation partners with UNLIT research staff and a variety of organisations and businesses in an effort to bring the educational community together with the business community to explore opportunities in technology, research and development.