The US Department of Energy (DOE) has released a Notice of Intent (NOI) to fund the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $8 billion programme to develop regional clean hydrogen hubs (H2Hubs) across America. H2Hubs will create networks of hydrogen producers, consumers, and local connective infrastructure to accelerate the use of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier. DOE said: “The production, processing, delivery, storage, and end-use of clean hydrogen, including innovative uses in the industrial sector, is crucial to DOE’s strategy for achieving President Biden’s goal of a 100% clean electrical grid by 2035 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.”
Today, the US produces about 10 million metric tons of hydrogen annually, compared with approximately 90 million tonnes produced a year globally. While most of the hydrogen produced in the US comes from natural gas through steam methane reforming, electrolysis technology – which uses electricity to produce hydrogen from water – is an emerging pathway with dozens of installations across the country. DOE said this technology could produce hydrogen using clean electricity from renewable energy including solar, wind and from nuclear power.
The selection of the regional H2Hubs will utilise cross-office collaboration and consider factors such as environmental justice, community engagement, consent-based siting, equity, and workforce development. DOE will select proposals that prioritise employment opportunities and address hydrogen feedstocks, end uses, and geographic diversity.
