Powerful Partnerships – Future Technologies

Fuel Cell Center (IUCRC)

Selected by the National Science Foundation to lead the nation’s fuel cell initiatives, USC is home to the country’s only Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Fuel Cells (IUCRC), better known as the USC Fuel Cell Center. The center provides industrial members access to professors as well as graduate and undergraduate students specializing in fuel cell research. Low cost access to this pre-competitive research provides invaluable opportunities for companies to gain access to pre-published data and design reports, royalty-free access to intellectual property, and opportunities for industry to drive the research agenda.

The center performs research with industry partners aimed at developing and commercializing the use of fuel cells. The Fuel Cell Center currently partners with over 15 industrial members including Boeing, John Deer, General Motors, Plug Power, and more. Each member supports the work of one graduate student, part of a faculty member’s time, and supplies for a project selected by the company.

Facilities

Construction is currently underway on the Horizon Center which will occupy an entire city block with two buildings privately and publicly developed to share an adjacent parking deck financed by the city. 235,000 square feet of commercial office and laboratory space will integrate Future Fuels™ research with industry within the Innovista community. Construction is scheduled for completion by summer 2007.

Endowed Chairs

USC currently holds 13 chairs and 11 Research Centers for Economic Excellence with 4 centers focusing on Future Fuels™ related research. The Center for Fuel Cell Sensors will research, design, and produce sensors for medical and automotive systems. The Center for Hydrogen Storage will conduct research into viable hydrogen storage options primarily for vehicle applications. The Center for Catalysts for Renewable Energy will develop new catalysts that allow hydrogen and alternative fuels from the transportation sector to be produced from renewable sources. The Center for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells will focus on the analysis, design, and manufacturing of solid oxide fuel cells to complement the work of the three previous centers.

Community Support and Collaboration

SC Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance

• Center for Hydrogen Research
• University of South Carolina Research
• Clemson University
• Savannah River National Laboratory
• South Carolina State University

• An initiative of the Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative making Columbia, SC a model for mass deployment of fuel cell technology and other alternative energy applications.
• Setting the standard in Columbia for large scale use and implementation of fuel cell applications including the supply chain around this technology.
• EngenuitySC
• University of South Carolina Research
• South Carolina Research Authority
• City of Columbia