Welcome to the latest newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO), with collaboration from other offices in the DOE Hydrogen Program! This newsletter is a quarterly resource that includes a recap of recent news and events, as well as a preview of upcoming activities. Visit the archives for past newsletters.
In this issue:
DOE Releases the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap
In June, DOE released the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, a comprehensive framework for accelerating the production, processing, delivery, storage, and use of clean hydrogen—a versatile and flexible energy carrier that can be produced with low or zero carbon emissions. Achieving commercial-scale deployment of clean hydrogen is a key component of the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda, and is critical to achieving long-term decarbonization goals while building a strong clean energy economy. The Strategy and Roadmap explores opportunities for clean hydrogen to contribute to national decarbonization goals across multiple sectors of the economy. It provides a snapshot of hydrogen production, transport, storage, and use in the United States today and examines future demand scenarios—with strategic opportunities to expand domestic production of clean hydrogen to 10 million metric tonnes (MMT) annually by 2030, 20 MMT annually by 2040, and 50 MMT annually by 2050. Developed by HFTO and other DOE Hydrogen Program offices and in partnership with other federal agencies, the Strategy and Roadmap underscores the administration's whole-of-government approach to addressing the climate crisis and achieving a carbon-free grid by 2035 and a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
HFTO has also developed a two-page summary ("at a glance") of the Strategy and Roadmap.
DOE Launches Demand-Side Initiative to Jumpstart Clean Hydrogen Economy
In early July, DOE announced a notice of intent (NOI) to invest up to $1 billion in a demand-side initiative to support the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs). The initiative aims to ensure that during initial years of production, both producers and end users in the H2Hubs have needed market certainty to unlock private investment and realize the full potential of clean hydrogen.
To help inform the design of a demand-side support mechanism for the H2Hubs program, the NOI included a request for information (RFI) on the potential benefits and risks, operating models, governance structures, and implementing partners. The RFI, which closed on July 24, also sought information to help identify the best approach to engaging and potentially involving private sector institutions in the organization, capitalization, and execution of the implementing entity's mandate. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and managed by DOE's Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations with support from HFTO, the H2Hubs program will help form the foundation of a national clean hydrogen network vital to reducing emissions from energy-intensive sectors, including industrial and chemical processes and heavy-duty transportation.
Read more about the notice of intent and request for information.
DOE Announces $42 Million to Advance Clean Hydrogen Technologies
In May, DOE announced nearly $42 million for 22 projects in 14 states to advance critical technologies for producing, storing, and deploying clean hydrogen—and an additional $17.8 million to establish a new North American university research consortium to help states and tribal communities implement grid resilience programs. This funding for clean hydrogen will be managed by HFTO and supports DOE's Hydrogen Shot goal of reducing the cost of clean hydrogen to 1 dollar per 1 kilogram in 1 decade ("1-1-1"), as well as the H2@Scale initiative for affordable production, transport, storage, and utilization of clean hydrogen across multiple sectors of the economy.
DOE Awards Funding for Clean Hydrogen Production from Nuclear Power
In May, DOE awarded $22.1 million to 10 industry-led projects, including two projects aimed at expanding clean hydrogen production using nuclear energy. This funding opportunity is administered by DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy (NE). In collaboration with NE, HFTO will provide funding and oversight for hydrogen production–related projects that were selected. Read more about the selected projects.
DOE Announces $150 Million for NETL Infrastructure Improvements
In April, DOE announced a $150 million investment to support infrastructure and laboratory modernization at all three National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) sites. These improvements will enhance NETL's capabilities and competitiveness in developing technologies to address climate change and advance a clean energy and industrial economy. Core capabilities will be improved in areas that will benefit hydrogen-related R&D, including alloy development and computation, data, and visualization.
DOE Launches New Energy Earthshot with Links to Hydrogen
DOE announced in May the launch of the Clean Fuels and Products ShotTM, a new Earthshot initiative designed to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from carbon-based fuels and products. As part of this effort, DOE identified critical research areas for decarbonizing the fuels and chemical industries, including developing carbon-efficient conversion processes and technologies using renewable electricity and hydrogen. This effort aligns with DOE's broader Energy Earthshots™ portfolio, leveraging breakthroughs in critical energy technologies from the Hydrogen Shot™, the Carbon Negative Shot™, and the Industrial Heat Shot™. HFTO is part of a group of DOE offices supporting this initiative.
Report by Third Way to Highlight Potential Cost and Emissions Savings from DOE's Energy Earthshots
In June, the national think tank Third Way released the executive summary of their forthcoming report, DOE's Energy Earthshots: Innovation Unlocks Big Cost and Emissions Savings. The report assesses the potential benefits of achieving the goals of the first six Energy Earthshots (Hydrogen, Carbon Removal, Long Duration Energy Storage, Enhanced Geothermal, Floating Offshore Wind, and Low-carbon Industrial Heat). Among the report's key findings are that "achieving the first six Energy Earthshots simultaneously produces significant emission and cost savings over the next three decades" and "approximately 3,900 million metric tons of CO2 and $850 billion in energy system costs are avoided."
Funding Opportunities
Notice of Intent Targets Domestic Production of Critical Minerals
In April, DOE released a notice of intent to fund a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law program to develop advanced concepts for producing rare earth elements and other critical minerals from domestic coal-based resources. These essential materials are key to manufacturing domestic clean energy products, including electrolyzers, fuel cells, solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles. This funding opportunity will be administered by the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management.
DOE Announces $35 Million to Decarbonize Domestic Iron and Steel Production
In June, DOE's Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E) announced up to $35 million in funding to support a new program to enable zero-process-emission ironmaking and ultra-low life cycle emissions steelmaking. This program supports goals outlined by the Biden-Harris Administration to reduce emissions as well as reduce imports of iron and steel products. As outlined in the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, steelmaking has been identified as an emerging high-priority application for clean hydrogen.
Engagement Opportunities
Registration is Open for Hydrogen Americas Summit
On October 2–3, 2023, DOE and the Sustainable Energy Council will co-host the Hydrogen Americas Summit and Exhibition for the second year. The summit will take place at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington, DC, and is expected to convene over 3,000 attendees, including industry leaders, government representatives, service providers, end users, and other hydrogen and clean-energy stakeholders. Attendees will get a chance to engage with industry leaders during the exhibition and H2 Tech Series, both of which are free with registration.
Employment Opportunities and Internships
Interested in becoming a clean energy champion? HFTO has its own hiring page with open positions for technical experts to assist with the office's hydrogen production, hydrogen infrastructure, and manufacturing efforts. There are many other ways to get involved, too, including the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Science, Technology, and Policy Fellowships (such as the Hydrogen Shot Fellowship); careers; and internships. Stay up to date on EERE opportunities and subscribe to the EERE Career Opportunities email list.
Interested in Becoming a Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Project Reviewer?
HFTO is looking for a diverse pool of subject matter experts to review applications for federal funding programs. Desired areas of expertise include (but are not limited to):
- Hydrogen production, storage, and delivery
- Hydrogen fuel cell technologies
- Hydrogen and energy infrastructure
- Integrated energy systems
- Manufacturing
- Recycling and recovery
- System integration
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Safety, codes and standards.
Webinars, Workshops, and Events
H2IQ Hour Webinar Recordings and Presentations Are Available
HFTO hosts monthly H2IQ Hour webinars to share information about the status and progress of DOE-funded hydrogen and fuel cell projects and initiatives, and to provide a forum for exploration and discussion of general hydrogen and fuel cell topics. Recent H2IQ Hour topics include: "Overview of Electrolyzer Operation at Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station" and "Update on Changes to the National Fire Protection Association Hydrogen Technologies Code (NFPA 2)." Recordings and presentation slides are available on the H2IQ Hour webinar page.
2023 DOE Hydrogen Program Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting
More than 2,500 people from across the United States and more than 50 countries attended the DOE Hydrogen Program's 2023 Annual Merit Review (AMR), which was held in a hybrid format from June 5–8. The four-day event began with a plenary session moderated by Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk. The all-day plenary included several panel discussions and video remarks from Under Secretary for Science and Innovation Dr. Geraldine Richmond, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Infrastructure Kathleen Hogan, and a video announcing the release of the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap narrated by White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, and Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. Independent reviewers attended presentations of DOE-funded hydrogen and fuel cell projects and evaluated their contributions to overall program efforts.
You can view the entire proceedings—including plenary-session Program presentations, as well as all project presentations and posters—on the 2023 AMR Proceedings page.
Save the date for next year's AMR on May 6–9, 2024!
Studies, Reports, and Publications
Available Now: Newly Updated HFTO Progress in Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Fact Sheet
HFTO recently updated its Progress in Hydrogen and Fuel Cells fact sheet, to include the latest information on accomplishments achieved through HFTO efforts, including reducing cost and improving durability of fuel cells; advancing technologies for producing, delivering, and storing hydrogen; and spurring deployments and catalyzing innovation. Also included are overviews of key program activities. This fact sheet has proved a popular and valuable resource over the years with both stakeholders and the general public. New data points include 1,306 hydrogen and fuel cell patents to date enabled by HFTO funding and a >90% reduction in the cost of electrolyzers since 2001.
NREL Releases ARIES Annual Report
In April, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released the Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) Annual Report. The report includes achievements in hydrogen heavy-duty fueling, grid modernization, electrolyzer performance, collaboration efforts, and more. ARIES is a research platform that supports the transition to clean energy. ARIES is funded by HFTO and other DOE offices. Download the full annual report.
NREL Releases ESIF Stewardship Summary
In April, NREL released the Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) Stewardship Summary. The report highlights hydrogen in three of the top ten ESIF infrastructure and facility upgrades—including a hydrogen truck fast-fueling system, a higher-power platform for electrolyzer stack evaluation, and new low-temperature electrolyzer stations—along with many other hydrogen-related accomplishments. NREL's ESIF aims to accelerate an efficient transition to future systems and is funded by HFTO and other DOE offices.
Spotlights
DOE Hydrogen Program Presents 2023 Awards at AMR
Each year during the DOE Hydrogen Program's Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting (AMR), the Hydrogen Program presents awards to individuals from partner institutions for contributions to overall program efforts and to recognize research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) achievements in specific areas. This year's awards included nine RD&D awards in the categories of Hydrogen Production Technologies; Fuel Cell Technologies; Systems Development and Integration; Systems Analysis; and Safety, Codes and Standards. An additional "Hydrogen Program Special Recognition Award" was also presented. Congratulations to each of the awardees:
- Hydrogen Safety Panel (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)
- Xingbo Liu (West Virginia University)
- Rangachary Mukundan (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
- Adam Weber (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
- Tommy Rockward (Los Alamos National Laboratory)
- Uuganbayar (Ugi) Otgonbaatar and Bob Beaumont (Constellation Energy Generation)
- Jason Hanlin (Center for Transportation and the Environment)
- Michael Wang, Amgad Elgowainy, Hao Cai, Krishna Reddi, Tom Sykora, and Pradeep Vyawahare (Argonne National Laboratory)
- Sara Marxen (CSA Group).
Accomplishment in Environmental Justice Announced at AMR
At this year's AMR, DOE Hydrogen Program Coordinator Dr. Sunita Satyapal announced during the plenary session that the HFTO-funded demonstration and deployment project with the Center for Transportation and the Environment hit the milestone of beginning package delivery service. This project will replace 15 diesel-powered UPS vans in Ontario, California, with fuel cell hybrid-electric delivery vehicles. Once fully operational, this project could reduce diesel fuel use by 56,000 gallons per year, with significant reductions in local air pollutants such as soot (particulate matter), nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide. Read more about the project.
DOE Announces Postdoctoral Awards
Each year, HFTO's Postdoctoral Recognition Awards identify postdoctoral fellows from DOE national laboratories who have made outstanding contributions in the RD&D of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. The HFTO Postdoctoral Recognition Award aligns with the Hydrogen Program's commitment to advance and strengthen the hydrogen and fuel cell workforce in the United States. This year's award recipients included first-place winner Audrey Taylor of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and runners-up Jason Keonhag Lee from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Wipula Liyanage from Los Alamos National Laboratory. Read more about the awardees.
Inventor of the Year Awarded to Two Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Innovators
Each year, Battelle recognizes distinguished innovators from the national labs they manage during their annual Celebration of Solvers. This year, chemist Tomonori Saito from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and materials scientist Yu Seung Kim from Los Alamos National Laboratory were both named Inventor of the Year along with four others. Tomonori was recognized for his research that has advanced polymers for several applications, including ion-conducting polymers for energy storage devices such as fuel cells and batteries, and several others. Yu Seung was recognized for his research for designing fuel cells with an increased temperature range, making the fuel cells more reliable and increasing the power of the vehicles. Both awardees' work in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies is supported by funding from HFTO.
NBC Visits NREL
In April, NBC News visited NREL in Golden, Colorado, with a tour of the facilities and hydrogen activities from Keith Wipke, the laboratory program manager for fuel cell and hydrogen technologies at NREL. The feature examines the potential role of clean hydrogen in a net-zero emissions future and gives viewers insights into NREL's work in hydrogen production, storage, and end uses. Watch the full the segment, Is hydrogen the clean fuel of the future?
Jeffrey Long Elected to National Academy of Sciences
In May, Jeffrey Long, a scientist at Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory (LBNL) and professor of chemistry and chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. In his work at LBNL, Jeffrey focuses on the design and controlled synthesis of novel inorganic materials and molecules with applications in gas storage, molecular separations, conductivity, catalysis, and magnetism. He is also a key leader within HyMARC (Hydrogen Materials Advanced Research Consortium), a team of five national laboratories established by DOE's Energy Materials Network to develop materials-based solutions for clean, low-cost hydrogen storage. Read the full list of newly elected members.
Two NREL Researchers Named Fellows of Electrochemical Society
In June, NREL researchers Bryan Pivovar and Jeff Blackburn were selected as Electrochemical Society (ECS) Fellows. Bryan, a senior research fellow, manages NREL's Electrochemical Engineering and Materials Chemistry Group and is the low-temperature electrolysis director for the Hydrogen from Next-generation Electrolyzers of Water (H2NEW) consortium. He was selected by ECS for his technical contributions for fuel cells and electrolyzers, as well as his global leadership in the promotion and adoption of hydrogen. Jeff, a senior scientist, group manager, and NREL Distinguished Member of the Research Staff, serves on the board of directors of ECS. He was selected as a fellow for his contributions to redox chemistry, charge transfer and transport, and dynamic (photo)electrochemical processes. Read more about the two new fellows.
HFTO's Anne Marie Esposito Featured in Faces of Public Service
Anne Marie Esposito, a technology manager with HFTO, was featured in the May 10 edition of EERE's Faces of Public Service as part of Public Service Recognition Week. The first week of May has been set aside each year since 1985 to honor the individuals serving our nation as federal, state, county, and local government employees. Anne Marie joined HFTO as the first Hydrogen Shot Fellow through ORISE, later becoming a federal employee in her current technology manager role. Learn more about Anne Marie and what brought her to public service.
HFTO Celebrates PRIDE
In June, HFTO staff members Tomas Green and Cassie Osvatics marched alongside fellow members of DOE's LGBTQI+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex) employee resource group, Energy PRIDE, as part of the Pride in Federal Service group during the Capital Pride Parade. Energy PRIDE and Pride activities across the federal government were supported in May when the Biden administration issued a proclamation on Pride Month. This proclamation supports activities such as the Progressive Pride flag raising, which honors the LGBTQI+ people of color, transgender people, and those living with and lost to HIV/AIDS.
Huyen Dinh Featured for AANHPI Heritage Month
In April, Huyen Dinh, a senior scientist and group manager at NREL, was spotlighted in celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. Huyen manages NREL's Electrosynthesis and Fuel Storage Science and Engineering Group and is the director of the HydroGEN Energy Materials Network consortium, which accelerates research and development of innovative and advanced water splitting materials and technologies for clean, sustainable, and low-cost hydrogen production.
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