DOE Invests $60M in Deployment of Clean Hydrogen Energy Technology

The Department of Energy is investing $60 million in clean hydrogen energy technologies and efforts to decarbonize the electric grid.

DOE earmarked $40 million for the development and deployment of clean hydrogen technologies. The remaining $20 million will fund a research consortium that will help states and tribal communities adopt grid resilience programs, the DOE said Tuesday.

Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said the investment will give state, territory and tribal leaders the tools they need to make informed decisions on decarbonization.

“DOE is laser focused on building a future with cleaner manufacturing, transportation, and electricity — all of which can be achieved with clean hydrogen technology,” Granholm added.

The funding will help DOE meet its Hydrogen Shot initiative’s goals of drastically increasing clean hydrogen use and reducing the cost of clean hydrogen by 80 percent.

DOE’s focus areas for the projects include technologies for solar fuels, improvements to hydrogen storage and lowering the costs of hydrogen fuel cells used in transportation.

A consortium of universities, including ones from Canada and Mexico, will receive three-year funding to develop a resilient electrical system. The goal is to address cross-border grid dependencies throughout North America.

Concept papers for the funding opportunity announcement are due Sept. 23, while full applications are due Dec. 1. Applicants are encouraged to include representation from the likes of minority-serving institutions.