U.S. Announces Funding for 20 Clean Hydrogen Projects Across 15 States
U.S Government, Led by Biden-Harris, Allocates $62 Million for Expansion of Hydrogen Sector
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced nearly $62 million in funding for 20 projects aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of next-generation clean hydrogen technologies across five topic areas.
The selected projects, spanning five topic areas, include: Components for Hydrogen Fueling of Medium- and Heavy-Duty (MD/HD) Vehicles, Standardized Hydrogen Refueling Station of the Future, Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Powered Port Equipment, Enabling Permitting and Safety for Hydrogen Deployment, and Equitable Hydrogen Technology Community Engagement.
These projects will advance critical elements of hydrogen fueling infrastructure, develop hydrogen-powered container-handling equipment for use at ports, and improve processes for the efficient, timely, and equitable deployment of hydrogen technologies.
Seven projects will focus on the permitting and safety of hydrogen infrastructure, while four projects will develop best practices for community benefits plans by meaningfully engaging with local disadvantaged communities. Seven of the selected projects align with key priorities of the Hydrogen Interagency Task Force.
Over $14 million of the announced funding is dedicated to community benefits, with all projects in the first four topic areas expected to develop and ultimately implement comprehensive Community Benefits Plans (CBPs).
The U.S. Secretary of Energy, Jennifer M. Granholm, stated that these investments will help deliver new economic opportunities across the nation while reinforcing America's global leadership in clean energy technologies. The investments are part of the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, which is being implemented through a whole-of-government approach coordinated by the Hydrogen Interagency Task Force.
The projects will be managed by the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO). Notable projects include the development of hydrogen fueling infrastructure for MD/HD vehicles and the implementation of hydrogen fuel cell-powered port equipment at the Port of Oakland.
Clean hydrogen can be produced from a diverse mix of domestic clean energy resources, including renewables, nuclear, and fossil resources with safe and responsible carbon capture. It is a flexible energy carrier and an essential input to several important chemical processes, such as fertilizer production and steelmaking.
The investments will work together with DOE's Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs and tax incentives in President Biden's historic Inflation Reduction Act to accelerate progress toward a thriving clean hydrogen economy. By enabling the development of diverse, domestic clean energy pathways across multiple sectors of the economy, clean hydrogen will strengthen American energy independence and contribute to the nearly 16 million jobs created across the American economy since January 2021.
Selection for award negotiations is not a commitment by DOE to issue an award or provide funding. The projects aim to improve community engagement and ensure the benefits of the clean energy revolution are felt by all Americans.
[1] U.S. Department of Energy. (2023). National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap. Retrieved from https://www.energy.gov/eere/hydrogen-and-fuel-cells/articles/national-clean-hydrogen-strategy-and-roadmap
[2] White House. (2021). Fact Sheet: President Biden's Bold Plan for a Clean Energy Revolution and Environmental Justice. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/22/fact-sheet-president-bidens-bold-plan-for-a-clean-energy-revolution-and-environmental-justice/
- The Biden-Harris Administration's funding for 20 clean hydrogen projects signifies a significant step towards the development of a hydrogen economy, where clean hydrogen, produced from diverse resources like renewables, nuclear, and carbon-captured fossil resources, could contribute to strengthening American energy independence and creating millions of jobs.
- To foster a more equitable hydrogen infrastructure, seven projects in the United States will focus on enhancing the permitting and safety of hydrogen projects, and four will develop community benefits plans by engaging with local disadvantaged communities, with over $14 million dedicated to these initiatives.
- As part of the National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, investments in these clean hydrogen projects will align with technology advancements in areas like hydrogen fueling for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and hydrogen-powered port equipment, further promoting the adoption of clean energy and self-development in the renewable energy sector.
