2011 Hydrogen Student Design Contest Focuses on Solving Residential Hydrogen Fuel Cell Issues

The Hydrogen Education Foundation just finalized the 54-team field for the 2011 Hydrogen Student Design Contest. Sponsored by the Department of Energy, this competition was initiated in 2004 to allow students from around the world to put there engineering skills to the test. This year’s theme is Residential Fueling with Hydrogen, meaning that the submissions will focus around designing a hydrogen fueling system for the home, apartment, or even dorm. In addition, teams will create a business and market plan for their product. Students with educational backgrounds in engineering, architecture, marketing, entrepreneurship, and more will be putting their skills to the test

Many of the top engineering schools around the world will be represented as well as past contest winners, including 2008/2010 grand prize winner, Missouri University of Science and Technology. The best designs will be announced in February 2011 at the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy 2011conference and expo in Washington, D.C. With support from the Department of Energy, Honda, Proton Energy Systems, Praxiar, and the International Association for Hydrogen Energy, this contest has been instrumental in not only helping to solve many of the fuel cell technology issues that companies face, but also in uncovering a new generation of brilliant minds that are sure to impact the global push towards renewable energy.

For more information about the contest, including a list of this year’s competitors, visit www.hydrogencontest.org.