Working with Us
NREL works in partnership with the Department of Energy and other government agencies, industry, universities, and other national labs. These partnerships are instrumental in advancing the development and use of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. NREL also supports the Hydrogen Utility Group, which includes utility industry representatives involved in exploring the hydrogen-electric future.
There are a variety of ways to get involved with NREL's hydrogen and fuel cell research activities:
- Work collaboratively with NREL through cooperative research and development agreements. This is the most widely used means of industrial collaboration.
- Participate in subcontracted hydrogen research. Close to half NREL's budget goes to support DOE-directed research conducted by large and small private companies, universities, research institutes, and consultants.
- Pay NREL to conduct research without your collaboration through work-for-others agreements or sponsored research. This is an effective way for industry to take advantage of NREL's expertise and unique research facilities.
- Participate in NREL's research and education partnerships with colleges and universities. NREL and universities engage in joint research projects, subcontracts, task ordering agreements, and master agreements; faculty and post-doctoral fellowships and sabbaticals; adjunct faculty arrangements; scientist-faculty exchanges; and facility access, use, and sharing.
- Work with NREL hydrogen and fuel cell researchers through mentored research internships for undergraduate and graduate students.
Licensing Our Technology
Over the years, NREL researchers have patented an assortment of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies that are available for licensing. Learn about our licensing agreement process.
Hydrogen Storage
Metal-Doped Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Production Thereof
U.S. Patent 7,160,530, January 2007
Hydrogen Production
Fluorescence Technique for On-Line Monitoring of State of Hydrogen-Producing Microorganisms
U.S. Patent 7,229,785, June 2007
Hydrogen Production Using Hydrogenase-Containing Oxygenic Photosynthetic Organisms
U.S. Patent 6,989,252, January 2006
System for Rapid Biohydrogen Phenotypic Screening of Microorganisms Using a Chemochromic Sensor
U.S. Patent 6,448,068, September 2002
Method and Apparatus for Rapid Biohydrogen Phenotypic Screening of Microorganisms Using a Chemochromic Sensor
U.S. Patent 6,277,589, August 2001
Process for Selection of Oxygen-Tolerant Algal Mutants That Produce Hydrogen
U.S. Patent 5,871,952, February 1999
Photoenhanced Anaerobic Digestion of Organic Acids
U.S. Patent 4,919,813, April 1990
Hydrogen Sensors
Method and Apparatus for Determining Diffusible Hydrogen Concentrations
U.S. Patent 7,306,951, December 2007
Hydrogen-Permeable Protective Coating for a Catalytic Surface
U.S. Patent 7,233,034, June 2007
Pd/Ni-WO3 Anodic Double Layer Gasochromic Device
U.S. Patent 6,723,566, April 2004
Thin-Film Method of Conducting Lithium-Ions
U.S. Patent 5,834,137, November 1998
Fiber-Optic Device for Sensing the Presence of a Gas
U.S. Patent 5,708,735, January 1998
Test Methods for Photolytic Reactor Materials
Ultra-Accelerated Natural Sunlight Exposure Testing Facilities
U.S. Patent 6,604,436, August 2003
Using Our Facilities
NREL's extensive research facilities are available to industrial and university researchers. Hydrogen and fuel cell research is conducted at four dedicated state-of-the-art laboratories, along with several other research facilities that provide space for scientists researching a variety of renewable energy technologies.
Contact Us
Please contact Robert Remick at 303-275-3830 if you would like to explore collaboration opportunities with NREL's hydrogen and fuel cell research.
You can also view NREL's employment opportunities to learn about current job openings and benefits.
