Virginia polytechnical institute & state university control number 3387-2451 project title ''AI-based generative design framework for rapid deployment of H2-fueled power generation technologies''…

The Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University a $1.339908 million cooperative agreement on September 17, 2025, under the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy program (CFDA 81.135) to develop an AI-based generative design framework for hydrogen-fueled power generation technologies.

Virginia Tech will create a specialized platform for evaluating novel materials and establishing design limits for existing alloys to address failure mechanisms in industrial and aeroengine hydrogen-fueled gas turbines. The work encompasses three key components: operation of a first-of-its-kind multi-capability hydrogen-testing platform for material behavior evaluation; development of a unified multiscale and multiphysics material degradation modeling framework addressing hydrogen embrittlement and corrosion in high-water-vapor exhaust environments; and creation of an AI-based generative model to design and discover hydrogen-tolerant materials.

The award runs through September 16, 2028, with work performed in Blacksburg, Virginia. Two sub-recipients deliver complementary technical contributions. Massachusetts Institute of Technology received a sub-award on December 8, 2025, and the University of Pittsburgh received a sub-award on November 4, 2025, both supporting the same project framework under identical titles.

Virginia polytechnical institute & state university control number 3387-2451 project title ''AI-based generative design framework for rapid deployment of H2-fueled power generation technologies'' virginia polytechnic institute and state university proposes to create a specialized platform for evaluating novel materials and establishing design limits for existing alloys, addressing complex failure mechanisms specific to industrial and aeroengine H2-fueled gas turbines (figure here). Key innovations of this project include 1) evaluation of material behavior using a first-of-its-kind multi-capability H2-testing platform, 2) development of a unified multiscale and multiphysics material degradation modeling framework to address H2 embrittlement and corrosion in high-H2O exhaust gas atmospheres and 3) creation of a pioneering AI-based generative model to design and discover H2-tolerant materials.