DOE Begins Accepting Applications for $7 Billion in Funding for Hydrogen Hubs

by Peter Maloney
APPA News
October 4, 2022

The Department of Energy (DOE) recently opened the application process for a $7 billion program to create regional clean hydrogen hubs (H2Hubs) across the country.

As part of a larger $8 billion hydrogen hub program funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the DOE said the H2Hubs will be a driver in helping communities across the country benefit from clean energy investments, good-paying jobs, and improved energy security while supporting the Biden administration’s goal of achieving a net-zero carbon economy by 2050.

For the initial funding opportunity launch, the DOE aims to select six to 10 hubs for a combined total of up to $7 billion in federal funding.

Hydrogen is a versatile fuel that can be produced from clean, diverse, and domestic energy resources, including wind, solar, and nuclear energy, or by using methane while capturing resulting carbon to reduce emissions, the DOE said. Hydrogen’s characteristics also make an option to decarbonize energy-intensive heavy industry and support heavy-duty transportation, the agency added.

Concept papers for H2Hubs proposals are due by Nov. 7 with full applications due by April 7. Additional funding opportunities may follow to accelerate and expand the network of clean hydrogen projects, the DOE said.

The DOE has also released a draft of the National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap for public feedback. A final version of the strategy and roadmap is scheduled to be released in the coming months with an updated version at least every three years.

In February, the DOE released requests for information to inform the implementation and design of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s hydrogen programs, which includes $8 billion for Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs, $1 billion for a Clean Hydrogen Electrolysis Program, and $500 million for Clean Hydrogen Manufacturing and Recycling Initiatives to support equipment manufacturing and strong domestic supply chains.