Cabot Corporation and Partners Selected for $5M in U.S. Department of Energy Grant to Support Continued Advancement of Global Hydrogen Economy

Grant will support development of innovative, scalable manufacturing processes for producing carbon catalyst supports for fuel cells

April 18, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

BOSTON--Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, selected its application for a $5 million research grant. This grant will be used by Cabot and its partners to support the deployment of fuel cells, which emit only water when creating electricity.

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The transition to electric in the worldwide mobility landscape is significantly supported by fuel cells, especially in the electrification of long-distance transportation. This importance stems from the fact that the extended driving range and management of heavier loads necessary for long-haul travel present difficulties for the adoption of battery technology.

The project will focus on developing an innovative and scalable manufacturing process for producing specialized carbon black that can be used as carbon catalyst supports for fuel cells. This technology will support and accelerate the establishment of a domestic catalyst supply chain, by providing a reliable source of high-performance carbon catalyst support.

Cabot is the lead recipient on the project titled, “Scalable, Innovative Manufacturing Process for Novel Carbon Supports for Metal Catalysts for Medium and Heavy-Duty Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells.” Building on Cabot’s strengths in carbon black particle production and engineering, especially in developing and commercializing carbon catalyst supports for fuel cells, this project will be deployed through collaborative research with Johnson Matthey, a leading manufacturer of catalysts and associated assemblies as well as Bosch, a leading fuel cell stack manufacturer and the University of California, Irvine, a leading research university in fuel cell technology. This project is poised to revolutionize the production of carbon catalyst supports essential for medium and heavy-duty fuel cells, aiming for a more sustainable and cost-effective manufacturing process. By developing a scalable and innovative manufacturing process, the project seeks to achieve high catalyst performance while optimizing the production process to increase process versatility, reduce production cost and minimize environmental impact.

“This DOE grant is not only a testament to our innovative capabilities but also aligns with our purpose to create materials that enable a more sustainable future. Through projects like this, Cabot is taking a leadership role in the evolution towards a more sustainable and efficient energy landscape,” said Patricia Hubbard, senior vice president and chief technology officer, Cabot Corporation. “By developing this technology, we aim to strengthen and accelerate the establishment of a domestic fuel cell catalyst supply chain to help ensure a reliable source of high-performance carbon catalyst support. By collaborating with esteemed partners and leveraging our collective expertise, we are poised to make significant contributions to the hydrogen economy, driving forward the United States’ leadership in clean energy technologies.”

The grant funding of $750 million for projects focused on enhancing hydrogen technologies, announced under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law by the DOE, is dedicated to improving manufacturing and recycling capabilities for clean hydrogen systems and components. This investment aligns with the national clean hydrogen strategy detailed in the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, which aims to lower costs, boost manufacturing, strengthen supply chains and support domestic employment in the clean hydrogen sector.

To learn more about the recent hydrogen funding selections and grants, visit the DOE’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Office.

ABOUT CABOT CORPORATIONCabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) is a global specialty chemicals and performance materials company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company is a leading provider of reinforcing carbons, specialty carbons, battery materials, engineered elastomer composites, inkjet colorants, masterbatches and conductive compounds, fumed metal oxides and aerogel. For more information on Cabot, please visit the company’s website at cabotcorp.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in the press release regarding Cabot's business that are not historical facts are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.