Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day 2024

October 8 recognizes National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day. The date — 10/08 — represents the atomic weight of hydrogen, the most abundant element on Earth. Sandia’s hydrogen and fuel cells technologies programs celebrated multiple highlights this year — from a notable test contributing to the safety codes and standards for hydrogen systems to studies examining the subterranean storage of hydrogen.

Sandia works with offices within the Department of Energy, such as the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, to understand and address the technical challenges to developing and deploying hydrogen as a fuel. Thanks to a deep, quantitative understanding and scientific basis for materials interaction with hydrogen and safety, Sandia is able to contribute to the advancement of hydrogen technologies and, in turn, sustain and extend national R&D capabilities.

Here are five ways research at Sandia is making this energy carrier a reality for a more secure, sustainable and resilient energy future.

1. Using X-ray science to hit hydrogen storage targets: Using soft X-ray techniques available through Berkeley Lab’s Advanced Light Source, a Sandia team and collaborators probed the chemistry of promising hydrogen storage materials to understand how they absorb and release hydrogen. The research is tackling scientific challenges and technical obstacles that inhibit the use of these materials-based solutions for a range of stationary and transportation uses.
2. Studying the subterranean storage of hydrogen: A paper published in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy earlier this year shared the findings of a Sandia research team which examined whether depleted oil and natural gas reservoirs could be used to store hydrogen on a larger scale. Hydrogen can be made by splitting water using solar or wind power, it can be used to generate electricity and power heavy industry, and it could be used to power fuel-cell-based vehicles. Additionally, hydrogen could be stored for use when energy needs outpace the supply delivered by renewable energy sources. Underground salt caverns can provide long-term storage for hydrogen, but salt deposits are not widespread across the U.S. Therefore, the research team studied if hydrogen stored in more common depleted oil and gas reservoirs will get stuck in the rock, leak out or get contaminated.
3. Validating models for safety codes and standards: Earlier this year, a test series at Sandia collected data to validate the models used for hydrogen safety codes and standards. Go behind the scenes with the research team who ran the test with partners from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and support from the DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office.
4. Cooperative research addresses technical barriers for hydrogen blending in natural gas pipelines: A cooperative effort entered its second phase, inviting partners from industry, academia and nonprofits to participate. Phase two of the Pipeline Blending Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) — A HyBlend^TM Project — focuses on addressing technical barriers for hydrogen blending in natural gas pipelines. The work is part of the HyBlend initiative. 
5. Webinars feature maritime hydrogen research, offer deep dive into hydrogen storage and safety: Hydrogen fuel cells are an established means of supplying efficient, clean power for a wide range of applications, including forklifts, mobile lighting, emergency backup power systems and light-duty vehicles. During a recent webinar series organized as part of the World Hydrogen Energy Conference and hosted by H2 Energy News, Sandia’s Lennie Klebanoff was invited to share a deep dive into hydrogen storage and safety and a retrospective of his work with maritime hydrogen.