The purpose of this RFI is solely to solicit input for ARPA-E's consideration and to inform the possible initiation of an R&D program on stationary hydrogen storage technologies. In particular, ARPA-E is interested in information regarding safe, low-cost, flexible scale from large to small, transportable, and widely deployable hydrogen storage technology for ultralong-duration seasonal energy storage. The hydrogen storage systems of interest are turn-key systems ready to be integrated with hydrogen fuel cell power generation, hydrogen capable CHP, microgrid, and other distributed power generation systems. The goal is to develop technologies and validate their reliability under variable conditions, manufacturability, and favorable economics at scale.
The growth of renewable energy is gaining momentum. Power generation from solar panels, wind turbines, and other renewable sources in the first five months of 2020 reached 25% in the US. However, the continued growth and deep penetration of renewable energy to greater than 50% require long-duration energy storage on a massive scale. While battery technologies can meet applications requiring hours of energy storage, and novel technologies such as those being developed in the ARPA-E DAYS program can satisfy applications requiring a day or more of storage, a need remains for energy storage technologies can dispatch over weeks or even months. Current technologies for long-duration energy storage, such as pumped hydro, are usually geographic location limited and require ultra-large-scale infrastructure investment and long-term commitments.
One of the options for large scale renewable electricity storage is to produce hydrogen using the surplus renewable electricity that would otherwise be curtailed or when electricity is available at low cost. Hydrogen, however, must be stored before it can be converted back to electricity or used for other purposes. Methods for hydrogen storage have their own challenges, from geographic location requirements to capital costs to conversion efficiency. If low-cost hydrogen storage can be achieved, however, it can contribute to enabling a deeply decarbonized power grid.
The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) of the US Department of Energy seeks information that could inform ARPA-E's potential research and development (R&D) funding for safe, low-cost, flexible scale, transportable, and widely deployable hydrogen storage technologies for ultralong-duration, especially seasonal, energy storage. The hydrogen storage systems of particular interest should be turn-key systems ready to be integrated with hydrogen fuel cell power generation, hydrogen capable CHP, microgrid, and other distributed power generation systems.
This is a request for information only. This notice does not constitute a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). No FOA exists at this time.
Responses to this RFI should be submitted in PDF format to ARPA-E-RFI@hq.doe.gov by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on March 15, 2021.