U.S., Netherlands Collaborate on Hydrogen Production and Infrastructure Technologies

The U.S. Energy Department on Oct. 6 announced a statement of intent to collaborate with the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy on analyzing and sharing information on hydrogen technologies. The effort will facilitate the collection of real-world data to guide future research and development, and demonstration activities. The consortium supports the department’s strategy and commitment to energy innovation through international collaboration.

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, together with the Office of Technology Transitions, which serves as the hub for the technology transfer activities across the department’s R&D enterprise, will spearhead the collaboration. The technical expertise and sophisticated equipment at the national laboratories will serve to validate the performance of electrolyzers, which produce renewable hydrogen from water and electricity. The initiative will also examine lessons learned and harmonize safety, codes and standards in novel areas like hydrogen and natural gas blending.

Activities under the initiative will be coordinated through global hydrogen partnerships in which both the nations participate, including the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy, International Energy Agency, Mission Innovation, Clean Energy Ministerial, and Hydrogen Energy Ministerial. 

About ten million metric tons of hydrogen are produced in the U.S. every year, of which 95 percent is produced from centralized reforming of natural gas. Currently, the primary applications of hydrogen are in the oil-refining and ammonia industry. Other emerging uses include fuel cell vehicles, metal refining, heating, and synthetic fuels. 

The department’s “H2@Scale” program is focused on wide-scale hydrogen production and utilization across multiple energy sectors to support resilience in power generation and transmission. In July, the department announced $64 million for 18 projects to support hydrogen research and development under the program.