Hydrogen and related technologies are expected to play a key role in decarbonizing multiple sectors, and the IIJA introduced numerous legal and structural changes to promote hydrogen, including authorizing and funding: (1) the Regional Hydrogen Hub Program, (2) the Clean Hydrogen Electrolysis Program, and (3) the Clean Hydrogen Manufacturing Recycling Program.
Regional Hydrogen Hub Program. Under this program, the DOE will select up to four regional clean hydrogen hubs to demonstrate the production, processing, delivery, storage, and end-use of clean hydrogen. The hubs must demonstrate diversity in feedstock (source of underlying energy), end-use (e.g. electric power generation, industrial uses, residential and commercial heating, and transportation) and regional location. At least two hubs must be located in the regions of the United States with the greatest natural gas resources. The IIJA appropriates $8B for FY22 through FY26 to the newly created Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations to carry out the program.
Clean Hydrogen Electrolysis Program. This research, development, demonstration, commercialization and deployment program is designed to improve efficiency, increase durability and reduce the cost of producing clean hydrogen using electrolyzers. The IIJA appropriates $1B to the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to administer the program.
Clean Hydrogen Manufacturing Recycling Program. This program provides federal financial assistance to advance new clean hydrogen production, processing, delivery, storage and use equipment manufacturing technologies and techniques. The IIJA appropriates $500M to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to administer the program.
While the IIJA provides a framework for these new hydrogen initiatives, the implementation details are in development, with the various administering offices working to establish program operations, administration, criteria, eligibilities, and rules.
In February, the DOE issued two Requests for Information (RFIs) soliciting input on program operations, requirements, and other priority topics. While providing industry and other interested stakeholders an opportunity to weigh in on the new programs, the RFIs also shed light on the agency’s strategy and current plans for administering the IIJA hydrogen initiatives. An overview of the RFIs follows.
Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs Implementation Strategy
The Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs Implementation Strategy RFI seeks to obtain public input on the solicitation process and structure of an upcoming DOE funding opportunity announcement (FOA) to fund regional clean hydrogen hubs. Responses to the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs Implementation Strategy RFI are due on March 21, 2022.
Stakeholders are asked to give input on four different categories of questions:
- Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (“H2Hubs”) provisions and requirements
- Solicitation process, FOA structure and implementation strategy
- Equity, Environmental and Energy Justice (EEEJ) priorities
- Market adoption and sustainability of the hubs
- Any other input or information that would be valuable in developing a Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub FOA
The RFI indicates that DOE envisions that the H2Hubs solicitation could be structured as a single, multi-year FOA with annual open and close dates for different “launches” over the FY 2022-2025 timeframe. Launches 1 and 2 would solicit, select, and deploy the H2Hubs, while Launches 3 and 4 would solicit and select new technologies, capabilities/end-uses, or partners that could be incorporated into and supplement the selected H2Hubs formed through Launches 1 and 2.
RFI on Clean Hydrogen Manufacturing, Recycling and Electrolysis
The DOE’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) seeks input on priority areas that will advance domestic manufacturing and recycling of clean hydrogen technologies such as fuel cells, storage…
Read More: DOE Set to Accelerate Clean Hydrogen Technologies | Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP