Stony Brook University has secured a grant exceeding $4.9 million from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to advance a clean hydrogen demonstration project. The initiative focuses on developing a low-pressure, ambient-temperature hydrogen storage system designed to enhance the resiliency and reliability of energy operations at a Northwell Health hospital.
The project aims to address challenges in storing high-density energy under mild temperature and pressure conditions, which is particularly relevant for densely populated areas with significant energy demands. The storage system uses technology developed over several years by Stony Brook’s Institute of Gas Innovation and Technology (I-GIT), based at the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC). This center is recognized as a New York State Center of Excellence in Energy.
The proposed large-scale system will combine hydrogen production with solid adsorbent-based storage, enabling efficient storage and release of hydrogen on demand. The modular design will allow for scalability according to varying customer needs. If successful, this approach could be replicated across industries such as healthcare and data centers to improve energy security.
“As a recognized leader in energy storage, Stony Brook University is shaping the future of clean energy through innovation and research, including in this pioneering hydrogen storage project,” said Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith. “The investment by NYSERDA to support this project will enable significant advances in flexible energy storage that can meet dynamic industrial and consumer demand. Demonstrating this novel technology in a hospital system will ensure that patients and healthcare workers are not subject to power outages or shortages in their critical care systems. This project reflects a collaboration between Stony Brook and seven industrial partners representing the entire hydrogen value chain, further strengthening New York’s leadership role in clean energy innovation.”
“There is a global race to develop highly efficient systems for large-scale energy storage that can operate under ambient temperature and moderate pressures in an off-grid mode,” said Devinder Mahajan, Professor of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering and director of I-GIT, who also serves as principal investigator for the project. He added that I-GIT has adopted the Power-to-Products (P2X) concept aimed at producing and storing fuels using modular systems with minimal carbon intensity.
The demonstration will take place at Staten Island University Hospital’s North Campus, where an integrated electrolyzer, hydrogen storage unit, and fuel cell stack will deliver on-demand power for applications such as backup electricity supply and electric vehicle charging stations. Technical expertise from I-GIT faculty—including Professors T. Venkatesh and Clive Clayton—will support implementation efforts alongside industry partners like Northwell Health, ConEdison, Plug Power, H2B2, Hydrexia, BrainDrip. These partners are contributing over $6 million through cost-sharing arrangements as well as providing facilities for testing; combined with NYSERDA’s funding this brings total investment above $11 million.
The effort forms part of a broader hybrid concept patented by the university’s Research Foundation linking renewable sources with storable molecular energy solutions.
“This advancement is a great example of the power of partnerships and the long and successful history of the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center supported by the state of New York,” said Vice President for Research and Innovation Kevin Gardner. “A productive energy innovation ecosystem yields major advancements and gets them to the demonstration phase as is being done here.”
“I-GIT was formed in 2018 in partnership with National Grid, to provide an industry-university collaborative platform and develop advanced technologies for the benefit of New York State customers,” said Robert B. Catell, chairman of AERTC’s board. “The strategic vision of the institute is now paying off as it makes inroads into technology demonstration, in this case with funding for hydrogen storage from NYSERDA. The expanded industry I-GIT membership that now includes ConEdison and VJ Technologies will ensure a pipeline of technology demonstration projects will follow.”
