There is fresh drive towards clean energy in the USA as the country sees a major new collaboration aimed at advancing hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines. The result of an incredible partnership between academic institutions and industry leaders, the hydrogen powered engine signals the country’s intention to be the world leader in renewable energy. Here’s some details on the project, and how its untapped potential could affect the market.
Blue engines but green energy?
A collaboration between two celebrated academic institutions in the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and the University of California, Riverside will soon bear fruit with the launch of the Hydrogen Engine Alliance of North America. The effort reflects the USA’s intention to outpace the likes of China, Japan & Germany in the development of hydrogen fuel.
Georgios Karavalakis, a professor of chemical and environmental engineering at UCR echoed this stated,
“The U.S. has immense potential to lead in hydrogen fuel innovation, but significant barriers in infrastructure, policy, and public awareness have slowed progress. While the technologies exist, they are costly due to complexity and the need for expensive raw materials.”
Matching the need for expansion in the hydrogen industry comes the Hydrogen Engine Alliance of North America, or H2EA-NA which will soon make waves in California. The use of hydrogen in internal combustion engines (ICEs) has potential for a wide range of vehicles, including large marine engines.
Is hydrogen the fuel of the future?
The Southwest Research Institute recently showcased hydrogen ICE technology in a heavy duty truck to display its capabilities. These demonstrations showed ultra-low emissions of nitrogen oxides, or NOx, which are dangerous when exposed to the atmosphere.
André Boehman, the U-M Vennema Professor of Engineering, professor of mechanical engineering, and director of the Walter E. Lay Automotive Engineering Laboratory, recently spoke on the importance of hydrogen as a potential fuel source, highlighting its versatility.
He stated, “Using hydrogen in internal combustion engines offers a low-carbon, long-term solution for transportation, particularly in applications where battery electric or fuel cell vehicles may not meet consumer performance requirements.”
What’s next for H2EA-NA?
On the 1st and 2nd of May, H2EA-NA will host the 2025 Hydrogen Engine Alliance Conference in Riverside, California. This reflects a similar drive for collaboration that has been shown in Europe with the launch of the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance in 2020, and Germany’s Allianz Wasserstoffmotor in 2021.
Boehman will be the co-director of H2EA-NA, and will focus on alternative fuels, fuel production, and energy conversion system thermodynamics. He will work alongside Karavalakis, who will head up combustion engines, low- and zero-carbon fuels, and transportation emissions.
While the need for vehicles powered by clean, renewable energy is a global necessity, it’s clear that countries are jostling for supremacy. There are also major geopolitical advantages to be gained in moving away from a reliance on petroleum. This is something that the team at H2EA-NA will be aware of.
A long road ahead for hydrogen fuel
Obviously H2EA-NA is going to cost a pretty penny, with funds coming from annual membership fees paid by participating companies, directed to the nonprofit U.C. Riverside Foundation. There is plenty of optimism around the project and with their conference coming in just over a month, excitement is growing.
Innovations in hydrogen fuel present a major opportunity for the USA to catch up to its competitors across the pond, and H2EA-NA’s work will be at the forefront. Green energy from hydrogen-powered engines sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie but it’s going to become commonplace as society shuns fossil fuels and moves swiftly towards renewable energy projects. California will become home to one of the hottest green energy projects.