Record 51 Projects at DOE Annual Hydrogen R&D; Review
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office
of Utility Technologies’ Annual Hydrogen Program Review was held 1-3
May 1996, in Miami, Florida, U.S.A. With funding for hydrogen research at
an all-time high, a 16-member review panel evaluated a record 51 projects
for their appropriateness, pace of R&D; activity, productivity and accomplishments,
quality and approach of proposed activities, and efforts in technology transfer.
The review was conducted in parallel sessions.
Panel One, chaired by Alessio Mezzina, retired, Brookhaven National Laboratory,
reviewed 11 systems analysis and 14 utilization projects; Panel Two, chaired
by Robert Reeves, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, reviewed 19 production
and eight storage projects. The NHA was represented on both panels: members
Addison Bain, Alan Lloyd, and Dave Nahmias and Executive Vice President
Bob Mauro served on Panel One; member Frank Lynch served on Panel Two.
This year’s format included program overviews
for each of the four project areas prior to project presentations. Principal
investigators had up to 30 minutes to present their findings and respond
to the reviewers questions. The review panels convened to discuss each project
and their recommendations at the conclusion of the presentations each day.
The findings and recommendations of the Review
Panels were presented to Hydrogen Program Manager Neil Rossmeissl on 3 May
1996. They were in overall agreement in their recommendations. They agreed
that the researchers as a group were technically competent and talented,
but questioned the appropriateness and risk of some of the projects given
the needs and mission of the program. They recommended that the program
reflect stronger engineering, test, and system validation/demonstration
perspectives as contrasted with the conduct of base technology core research.
Additional recommendations included stronger industrial involvement, particularly
from the transportation sector, and greater intradepartmental cooperation,
particularly with DOE’s Office of Transportation Technology.
To obtain a copy of the 1996 Annual Hydrogen
Program Review Proceedings, contact Eileen Kalim at the National Renewable
Energy Laboratory, by phone at +1.303.275.3864, or by eMail at kalime@tcplink.nrel.gov.
©1996. All Rights Reserved. A Publication of
the National Hydrogen Association.
This material may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
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