High Hopes for Hydrogen

Can South Carolina attract the right brainpower to become a leader in the “hydrogen economy”? To be to hydrogen what the Silicon Valley is to computers?

It doesn’t hurt that South Carolina has a growing economy — and yes, the weather is nice.

But there are other reasons South Carolina’s high-stakes gambit might succeed:

• South Carolina’s approach is a statewide one, with public and private cooperation.

• University of South Carolina (USC) researchers have been breaking ground in hydrogen fuel cell research for several years.

• USC for four years has been home to the country’s only National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Fuel Cells.

• The state has something few others have — a former nuclear weapons plant with 50 years of experience in producing and storing hydrogen.

• Clemson University’s automotive research campus in Greenville, CU-ICAR, is getting ready to provide real-world testing for fuel cells developed for automobiles.

• Clemson scientists have contributed major breakthroughs in improving membranes necessary for fuel cells.

• The state’s fledgling endowed chairs program is providing the real money it takes to attract more top researchers.