Anderson County company to lead $5M clean hydrogen program for DOE

Listen to this article

Tetramer Technologies LLC of Pendleton has been selected by the Department of Energy’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office to lead a $5 million program aimed at reducing the cost of clean hydrogen generation.

Tetramer will collaborate with Arkema, Nel Hydrogen and the Georgia Institute of Technology, to advance its proprietary high-performance membrane within an optimized electrolyzer system. Proton exchange membranes are critical components in electrolyzers that are used to produce low-carbon, clean hydrogen fuel from water, according to a news release from the company.

Related story: Company awarded $1M US Army manufacturing tech contract

Related story: Pendleton company awarded funding to improve environmental safety of turbines

Related story: Tetramer awarded $1M to develop garments to protect against chemical agents

Current commercial proton exchange membranes are not only expensive but also suffer from performance constraints and environmental drawbacks due to the use of materials with perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA), a known environmental hazard, the news release stated. In this three-year program, the collaborators will work to optimize Tetramer’s non-PFSA membranes for performance and durability while reducing costs through manufacturing improvements.

“This program represents a significant step forward in demonstrating the performance and manufacturing of Tetramer’s PFSA-free ionomer membranes in commercial electrolyzer systems,” tetramer CEO Jeff DiMaio said in the release. “Success in this effort will further support the growth of the hydrogen economy with a stable supply chain of commercially-available ionomer membranes which have a reduced environmental impact and improved performance, ultimately leading to lower cost hydrogen.”

Behind the funding is President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda, which includes $750 million in financial support for 52 projects to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen and to bolster the nation’s place as a leader in the clean hydrogen industry.

Related story: Bosch investing $200M in Anderson hydrogen fuel cell production

Related story: Michelin North America CEO talks EV, sustainability in South Carolina

The Tetramer program focuses on the research and development, manufacturing and demonstration of the Tetramer membranes through incorporation in commercial electrolyzers systems to help propel the nation toward a carbon-neutral future.

“Aligning with our mission to drive innovation and collaboration within the clean energy sector, Tetramer has been able to join efforts with an impressive team from industry and academia that can advance the state of the art and allow all of us to support and accelerate the U.S. transition to a hydrogen economy,” DiMaio said in the release.

He said the program not only positions South Carolina as a significant player in the knowledge economy but also generates substantial economic benefits. The initiative promises job creation and synergies with the growing S.C. hydrogen economy, furthering the region’s sustainable energy goals, the release stated.

As part of the Community Benefits Plan portion of the program, Tetramer will establish a partnership with historically black colleges and universities for future collaboration and recruitment, to develop outreach programs for local career centers, and to host students through the Clemson Emerging Scholars and Georgia Tech Project ENGAGES programs. The team will also work with South Carolina technical colleges to help define career training for future hydrogen-related jobs.