For decades, DOE has been laying the foundation of our nation’s clean-hydrogen economy by driving down costs and improving technologies through research, development, and demonstration (RD&D), while advancing technologies from the lab to demonstration phases and breaking down barriers to deployment and commercialization, the DOE reported.
The past twelve months saw much of that groundwork pay off. Industry announced unprecedented investments in clean hydrogen production, the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs are getting ready to launch DOE’s largest-ever hydrogen demonstration projects, and partnerships continue to grow and strengthen across the federal government and around the world.
Here is a brief snapshot of some of the major clean hydrogen milestones from 2023:
LEADING THROUGH STRATEGY, PARTNERSHIPS, AND POLICY
- U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap was released in June.
- Hydrogen Interagency Task Force (HIT) was launched across 11 agencies and the White House.
- Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit (45V): A notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) was announced along with other hydrogen tax credit guidance.
FUNDING GROUNDBREAKING PROJECTS AND LAUNCHING NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
- Seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs were selected to receive up to $7 billion.
- $750 million funding opportunity was launched for electrolyzer RD&D and manufacturing and recycling of components and materials for clean hydrogen and fuel cell systems.
- $59 million funding opportunity was issued to advance the national clean hydrogen strategy, including up to $9 million for community-focused topics.
- Sixteen projects were selected to receive nearly $48 million to advance clean hydrogen technologies, including fuel cells and hydrogen storage.
- Twenty-two clean-hydrogen projects were selected to receive $42 million, including more than $8 million for hydrogen sensors.
- Two projects were selected to receive more than $10 million to expand clean hydrogen production from nuclear energy, through a collaboration between the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) and DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy.
- A hydrogen compressor project was selected to receive nearly $2 million through a clean manufacturing funding opportunity; project is co-funded by HFTO and DOE’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office.
INVESTING, COMMERCIALIZING, AND SPURRING DEMAND
- Five-fold increase in electrolyzer capacity in the United States was achieved between 2022 and 2023.
- More than 1,300 patents for clean-hydrogen and related technologies were issued through 2023—spurred by funding from HFTO.
- Up to $1 billion demand-side initiative was launched by DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations.
- Six new applications were submitted to the DOE Loan Programs Office for hydrogen-related projects, totaling $4.9 billion in loan-guarantee requests.
LEADING THROUGH EXPERTISE
- Clean Hydrogen Commercial Liftoff report was released.
- First Hydrogen Shot Technology Assessment was published.
DEMONSTRATING TECHNOLOGIES ON THE WAY TO COMMERCIALIZATION
- Demonstration of direct nuclear-to-hydrogen production began—a first-of-a-kind system in the United States
- Demonstration of hydrogen delivery vans(link is external)began—with vehicles operating in a disadvantaged community.
- Demonstration of hydrogen-powered rescue (“H2Rescue”) truck for disaster relief began—in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Defense.
ENGAGING WITH GLOBAL PARTNERS
- Declaration of intent for mutual recognition of hydrogen certification was endorsed by 38 countries at COP28.
- H2-DEIA Global Platform in support of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility was launched.
- H2 Twin Cities 2023 was launched to connect mentor-mentee cities and communities across continents.
- The “Hydrogen Horizons” Challenge was the featured contest for FIRST Global, inventor Dean Kamen’s international STEM-focused nonprofit. This year’s contest was supported by DOE and included student contestants from over 190 countries.
Along with all our partners, DOE looks forward to carrying this momentum into 2024 and beyond. The coming year promises even more progress toward the ambitious goals of the national strategy, thanks to the progress made in 2023—especially the enhanced collaboration that leverages skills and resources of multiple federal agencies and the growing partnerships and engagement with state and local governments, industry, academia, the national laboratories, and communities across America.
Photo of DOE
Press release https://shorturl.at/vIUW1
