US university New Mexico Tech is to use a $1 million grant from the state authorities to help start hydrogen projects around the state.

New Mexico's Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department handed out the grant after pressure from hydrogen and fuel cell researchers last year, according to Fuel Cell Today.

Money has already been used for a variety of projects, ranging from handing out models of hydrogen fuel cell cars to school children to developing fuel cell education programmes.

"What we're looking for is to use that money to leverage federal resources," said Van Romero, New Mexico Tech vice president of research and economic development.

"It's more of a matching fund resource as opposed to someone saying 'I have a new idea for a fuel cell, can I get some money to get it off the ground.'

"We're really trying to turn this $1 million into a lot more revenue for the state."

Catalysts employing pgms are used in many types of fuel cells, including those used in fuel cell vehicles.

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