This is a request for information from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) concering strategies and potential pathways for cost reduction and performance improvements of composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPVs) systems for compressed hydrogen storage for onboard vehicles applications.
Currently, carbon fiber (CF) reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are used to make COPVs. Type III COPVs have a metallic liner and Type IV COPVs have non-metallic liners. COPVs designed to store hydrogen gas at pressures up to 700 bar are being deployed in fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) currently available on the market. However, their high cost is a barrier for widespread commercial deployment of light-duty FCEVs. DOE requests information on technology strategies and pathways to reduce the cost of components of Type III and Type IV COPVs, including but not limited to the composite materials such as CF precursors, lower cost conversion processes for CF production, alternative fibers to CF, lower cost polymer resins, resin additives, etc., and other components such as liner and boss materials. In addition to strategies to reduce cost, DOE also requests information on technology strategies to improve system performance to reduce the amount of high cost composites required, designs for enhanced conformability and improved packaging, and design improvements with potential to lower cost of operation and improve performance of the refueling infrastructure (e.g., eliminate need for hydrogen pre-cooling).
The purpose of this RFI is to identify future strategic research and development pathways for the DOE to pursue with potential to meet future system cost targets. Note, this RFI is focused on COPVs which require high-strength fiber reinforced composites and is therefore differentiated by activities carried out through the EERE Vehicle Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Offices for vehicle lightweighting, which are focused on lower strength fiber reinforce composites.
This RFI is not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA); therefore, EERE is not accepting applications at this time. EERE may issue a FOA in the future based on or related to the content and responses to this RFI; however, EERE may also elect not to issue a FOA. There is no guarantee that a FOA will be issued as a result of this RFI. Responding to this RFI does not provide any advantage or disadvantage to potential applicants if EERE chooses to issue a FOA regarding the subject matter. If a FOA is subsequently issued, final details, including the anticipated award size, quantity, and timing of EERE funded awards, will be subject to Congressional appropriations and direction.
Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically to H2Storage@ee.doe.gov no later than 5:00pm (ET) on June 30, 2016. Responses must be provided as attachments to an email. It is recommended that attachments with file sizes exceeding 25MB be compressed (i.e., zipped) to ensure message delivery. Responses must be provided as a Microsoft Word (.docx) attachment to the email, and no more than 5 pages in length, 12 point font, 1 inch margins. Only electronic responses will be accepted.