The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to support the $8 billion program of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act to establish regional clean hydrogen hubs (H2Hubs) across the United States.
H2Hubs will establish networks of hydrogen producers, consumers, and local connecting infrastructure in order to expedite the adoption of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier. DOE’s strategy for reaching President Biden’s goals of a 100 percent clean electrical grid by 2035 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 relies heavily on the production, processing, delivery, storage, and final use of clean hydrogen, including new industrial uses.
“Hydrogen energy has the power to slash emissions from multiple carbon-intensive sectors and open a world of economic opportunity to clean energy businesses and workers across the country,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “These hydrogen hubs will make significant progress towards President Biden’s vision for a resilient grid that is powered by clean energy and built by American workers.”
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Act’s investments in hydrogen technology are a key component of President Biden’s effort to decarbonize the industrial sector, which accounts for one-third of domestic carbon emissions.
Hydrogen energy has the potential to decarbonize many economic sectors, such as heavy-duty transportation and steel production, as well as create well-paying jobs and pave the way for a grid powered by renewable energy sources. Currently, the United States produces roughly 10 million metric tons of hydrogen yearly, compared to approximately 90 million tonnes worldwide.
Despite the fact that the majority of hydrogen generated in the United States is derived from natural gas through steam methane reforming, electrolysis technology – which uses electricity to produce hydrogen from water – is an emerging method with dozens of installations nationwide. This technique might manufacture hydrogen utilizing electricity derived from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and nuclear power.
Environmental justice, community participation, consent-based siting, equity, and workforce development will be considered in the selection of regional H2Hubs, which will involve cross-office coordination.
The Department of Energy will pick ideas that highlight job opportunities and address hydrogen feedstocks, end uses, and geographic diversity. The NOI gives an outline of DOE’s current vision to achieve the BIL criteria for the H2Hubs, which will be supported by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstration and the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office.
Commitment of DOE to clean hydrogen
The H2Hubs provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act will support the Department of Energy’s ongoing initiative to bring together partners to reduce the cost of advanced hydrogen production, transport, storage, and utilization across many economic sectors. DOE also started the Hydrogen Shot in 2021 to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen below $1 per kilogram in a decade (“1 1 1”).
