The Hawaii Hydrogen Center for Development and Deployment of Distributed Energy Systems (HHC) is one of HNEI’s largest projects. This project is a multi-million-dollar federal appropriation funded through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), with activities including augmentation of the Hydrogen Power Park, assessment of hydrogen fuels purity requirements for fuel cell applications, R&D of cost-effective renewable hydrogen production, and analysis of potential hydrogen and distributed energy systems for the Big Island grid system. A variety of subcontracts will be involved, making use of a several industrial companies and educational organizations.

This project involves laboratory activities as well as efforts at the Hawaii Fuel Cell Test Facility (HFCTF) and the Hawaii Hydrogen Power Park. Fuel cell membrane testing and tests of the effect of trace impurities on PEM fuel cell performance will be conducted at the HFCTF. The Hydrogen Power Park will be located on the Big Island of Hawaii and will be the scene of efforts concerning the use of fuel cells for generation of electricity from renewable resources and analysis of a variety of different hydrogen and distributed energy systems for integration into the Big Island’s grid system. In addition, there will be continuing research efforts at several of HNEI’s laboratories, aimed at the production of hydrogen from biomass, from biological dark fermentation, and from high efficiency photoelectrodes (photoelectrochemical hydrogen production).