Hydrogen is critical to enabling the decarbonization of a wide range of difficult-to-decarbonize sectors, from long-haul and heavy-duty transportation to long-duration energy storage to the production of chemicals, steel, and cement.
Berkeley Lab leads the research and development of clean hydrogen production, use, and storage, across both fundamental science and applied technologies. Our focus is on analysis-guided translational systematic research to overcome barriers, realize hydrogen at scale, and decrease discovery to deployment for immediate impact.
Our Hydrogen Research Pillars
Hydrogen Production
Reduce the cost and increase the durability of electrolyzers and advanced pathways to meet the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrogen Shot targets.
Hydrogen Delivery & Storage
Synthesize, characterize, and mechanistically understand novel hydrogen storage hydrides, sorbents, chemical carriers, and porous media.
Hydrogen Utilization
Improve hydrogen technology efficiency and durability through advanced integration with a focus on fuel cells for transportation and heavy-duty applications.
Cross-cutting
Advanced characterization and simulation to increase discovery, performance, and durability of materials from atoms to assemblies for hydrogen technologies.
Hydrogen Analysis
Techno-economic analysis to identify applications and understand targets for hydrogen technologies to inform required advances and validate progress toward cost targets, scale-up, and manufacturing.
Partnerships, Projects, and Programs
HyMARC
HyMARC Energy Materials Network is focused on advanced materials for hydrogen storage including sorbents, hydrides, and chemical carriers.
BioH2
BioH2 focuses on the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to H2 by biological high temperature fermentation.
Million Mile Fuel Cell Truck (M2FCT)
M2FCT focuses on research and development to enable a fully competitive, heavy-duty fuel cell truck that can meet the required durability, cost, and performance metrics.
H2NEW
H2NEW focuses on reducing cost and increasing performance and durability of low- and high-temperature electrolyzers for producing hydrogen by splitting water.
HydroGEN
HydroGEN Energy Materials Network focuses on advanced water splitting materials and pathways such as alkaline and acid-based electrolysis, as well as direct-solar pathways (photoelectrochemical, solar thermochemical).
Unitized Reversible Fuel Cell (URFC) Research
A cross-cutting technology that comprises an electrolyzer and fuel cells in one device, which serves as an energy conversion device combined with scalable storage with high energy densities.
Subsurface Hydrogen Research
Berkeley Lab is establishing a consortium and vision for a field research study to assess the safety and efficiency of large-scale geologic storage in California.
Our Publications
We have more than 100 researchers publishing on the many aspects of hydrogen. Read our publications on hydrogen.
Related News
Emerging Hydrogen Storage Technology Could Increase Energy Resilience
With support from the Department of Energy’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, a team of researchers led by Berkeley Lab have examined backup power systems based on sponge-like materials called metal-organic frameworks, or MOFs, and found that with further research and development, they could be cost-competitive with other energy storage technologies for backup power.
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Hydrogen Can Play a Key Role in U.S. Decarbonization
A Q&A with Berkeley Lab scientists on how hydrogen can help achieve net-zero emissions.
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New Device Advances Commercial Viability of Solar Fuels
Discovery significantly improves stability in ethylene and hydrogen production via artificial photosynthesis.
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Hydrogen Offers Promising Future for Long-Haul Trucking Industry
The Million-Mile Fuel Cell Truck Consortium examines the state of hydrogen fuel-cell technology for heavy-duty vehicle applications.