The work will generate rigorous cost estimates for manufacturing equipment, labor, energy, raw materials, and various components. This in turn will help identify ways to drive down production costs of transportation fuel cell systems, stationary fuel cell systems, and hydrogen storage systems.

The projects will generate life-cycle cost analyses of existing and conceptual fuel cell systems for transportation and stationary applications. They will analyze a range of system sizes, manufacturing volumes, and applications, including transportation, backup power, and material handling equipment such as forklifts.

The resulting data will help DOE focus its future R&D funding on the fuel cell components and manufacturing processes that can deliver the greatest gains in efficiency.

Directed Technologies Inc in Arlington, Virginia will receive up to $3 million to conduct two cost analyses: one focused on transportation fuel cell systems, the other on hydrogen storage systems.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California has been awarded $1.9 million to develop total cost models for low- and high-temperature stationary fuel cell systems up to 250 kW.

And Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio will receive up to $2 million from DOE to provide cost assessments for stationary fuel cell applications up to 25 kW, including forklifts, backup power, primary power, and combined heat and power (CHP) systems.