Michael J. Holmes is a Deputy Associate Director for Research at the EERC, where he currently oversees fossil energy research areas at the EERC, including hydrogen production and mercury control technology projects, and is involved in research in a range of areas, including emission control, fuel utilization, process development, and process economic evaluations.

Mr. Holmes' principal areas of interest and expertise include fuel processing for production of syngas and feed gas for fuel cells and process development and economics for advanced energy systems and emission control (air toxics, SO₂, NO_x, H₂S, and particulate). He has managed numerous large-scale projects in these areas. Mr. Holmes is the program manager of the National Center for Hydrogen Technology at the EERC and is working under agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory and over 50 partners to develop a broad range of technologies required to advance the opportunity for a hydrogen economy. In addition, Mr. Holmes is currently serving on the National Hydrogen Association (NHA) Board of Directors, chairs the University working group within NHA, and cochairs the Hydrogen from Coal group within NHA.

Mr. Holmes received his M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from UND and B.S. degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics from Mayville State University. Prior to his current position, he was a Senior Research Advisor at the EERC and a Principal Research Engineer at McDermott Technology, Inc. (MTI). At MTI, Mr. Holmes spent 15 years as a process development engineer for advanced energy systems in support of the operating divisions of McDermott International, including Babcock & Wilcox, Jay Ray McDermott Engineering, and Diamond Power Specialty Company.

He has authored or coauthored numerous technical publications.