The U.S. Department of Energy is now accepting applications for $7 billion in funding to develop at least a half dozen regional clean hydrogen hubs across the country. Alongside the funding opportunity announcement, the agency issued guidance for a draft production standard for qualifying clean hydrogen projects.
DOE’s hydrogen hub program calls for the development of six to 10 hubs funded through the bipartisan infrastructure law. Concept papers are due Nov. 7, and DOE said full applications are due April 7, 2023. Additional funding opportunities “may follow to accelerate and expand the network of clean hydrogen projects,” the agency said.
The funding opportunity is part of a larger $8 billion investment the federal government is making to develop hydrogen hubs.
“This national hydrogen strategy will help us accelerate the development and deployment of technologies to realize the full potential of clean hydrogen energy for generations to come,” Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in a statement.
DOE also released draft guidance for a clean hydrogen production standard, setting a target of 4 kg CO2e per kgH2 for lifecycle greenhouse emissions associated with hydrogen production. Stakeholders have until Oct. 20 to comment on the guidance.
The production standard is not a regulatory standard, DOE said in its proposal, and the agency “may not necessarily require future funded activities to achieve the standard.” Hydrogen hubs funded by the infrastructure law, however, will need to show they can achieve that standard.
“Future DOE funding opportunity announcements will further describe merit review criteria that will be used in selection of successful projects subject to the CHPS,” the agency said.
