The University of Kansas and Avium, a startup company started by researchers from KU’s School of Engineering, are working to lower the cost of clean hydrogen with $5 million from the US Department of Energy.
An Avium electrolyzer stack prototype. Image Credit: Avium LLC
The work at KU is part of a $750 million funding package for 52 projects in 24 states that aims “to reinforce American leadership in the growing hydrogen industry and dramatically reduce the cost of clean hydrogen,” according to the DoE.
Green hydrogen is vital in the global effort to reduce carbon emissions, particularly in the transportation, industrial, and agricultural sectors. However, greenhouse gases are released during the traditional hydrogen production process. Conversely, green hydrogen is essential to reaching net-zero targets because it is generated using renewable energy.
The whole world is interested in green hydrogen. Hydrogen is a commodity chemical — nearly 100 million tons are produced annually worldwide. It’s used in fertilizers, cement production, metal processing, and refining. Traditionally, it’s made from natural gas, but that process emits CO2. This results in hundreds of millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
Kevin Leonard, Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Kansas
Leonard is also a member of KU’s Center for Environmental Beneficial Catalysis and chief science officer of Avium.
Leonard and KU graduate student Joseph Barforoush created new catalysts in 2017 that improved the efficiency of green hydrogen production, resulting in the formation of Avium, headquartered in Lawrence.
Leonard added, “We have gone through the Small Business Innovation Research grants, receiving funding from both the National Science Foundation and the DoE. s part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, $750 million was allocated to bolster green hydrogen efforts in the U.S., including the award to Avium and KU.”
The work at KU and Avium will create new technologies and catalysts to increase the dependability and efficiency of green hydrogen production. Leonard indicated that the advantages could extend beyond industries that currently use hydrogen.
He added, “People are interested in green hydrogen for traditional applications like those I mentioned, but also for emerging ones. One example is sustainable aviation fuels. Green hydrogen will be critical in creating sustainable, petroleum-free fuels, specifically for aviation.”
According to the KU researcher, clean hydrogen is also becoming more popular as a renewable energy storage option.
“Take Arizona, for example. During winter days, the solar panels on the grid can produce much more energy than is needed. However, in the summer, when it’s 110 degrees and air conditioners are running, solar energy alone cannot produce enough electricity, specifically in the evening. Storing excess energy from January and February to use in July and August is a challenge. However, using green hydrogen to store that energy, then converting it back to electricity later, may prove effective for grid energy balancing,” Leonard further added.
The project will include training for postdoctoral researchers and KU students. Additionally, the award will help students at Urban Tec in Kansas City, Missouri, and the Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center in Lawrence, Missouri, with their technical training and career development.
Leonard further added, “We will collaborate with Peaslee to provide technical training for students entering fields like electrical work and HVAC, ensuring they are familiar with the specialized skills required for green hydrogen processes, such as handling high-voltage lines or understanding the systems involved in hydrogen energy. We are also partnering with Urban Tec to launch the Avium Summer Experience, where students from Kansas City will visit KU to explore university life. They will also tour Avium and Peaslee Tech to learn about the different paths available to them — whether through apprenticeships or startup environments.”
According to Leonard, advancing technologies such as Avium’s catalysts will be crucial to the shift to clean energy, particularly the DoE's stated Hydrogen Shot objective.
Leonard concluded, “The US is really pushing towards sustainability. There is a federal target to produce green hydrogen for just a dollar per kilogram by 2031. The point is that green hydrogen will become a key part of the transition to clean energy. Green hydrogen can help make the chemical industry more sustainable by enabling the more sustainable production of fuels and fertilizers.”