Professor urges federal support for hydrogen research

Updated 2:00 PM June 16, 2003

Professor urges federal support for hydrogen research

By Mark Burnham
U-M Washington, D.C. Office

A leading U-M chemical engineering researcher told a House committee May 20 that Congress should consider creating a university-based hydrogen research program to capitalize on the expertise at U.S. universities in creating a hydrogen fuel economy.

Johannes Schwank told members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that while research on hydrogen fuel cells is ongoing at U-M and elsewhere, a larger, better federal research program is needed.

"The scope and scale of the federal effort to overcome the important technical challenges is sorely inadequate," he said. "If we as a nation are going to see the transition to a hydrogen economy, securing our technical leadership in the world, then we must create a more comprehensive and coordinated program."

Schwank told lawmakers the administration's hydrogen fuel cell initiative, known as the Freedom Car, is a good beginning but lacks the necessary basic research components.

Schwank urged the committee to look at creating an Energy Research Initiative (ERI) either at the National Science Foundation or the Department of Energy. The ERI would focus on hydrogen fuel research and would select a group of six to 10 universities that would undertake an integrated set of basic research and education projects focusing on resolving the technological challenges that impede hydrogen fuel cell development.

"It is important that academic, industrial and government sectors work together to assure that we lay a strong research foundation, permitting us to select the best technologies leading to our hydrogen-based energy future," Schwank concluded.

For more information about the hearing, contact mburnham@umich.edu or the Washington office at (202) 554-0578.

Professor urges federal support for hydrogen research

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