DOE to Invest $40 Million in Clean Hydrogen Technology and $20 Million in Grid Decarbonization

As part of the Biden administration’s goal to become a net-zero carbon economy by 2050, the Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced that it will invest $60 million in clean hydrogen technologies and grid decarbonization programming. This announcement further advances DOE’s commitment to investing in historically disadvantaged communities, with funding that will lower the cost of clean hydrogen and link universities to their local communities in grid decarbonization efforts.
 
$40 million will go to the development and deployment of clean hydrogen technologies in manufacturing, transportation, and electricity. This will advance DOE’s existing Hydrogen Shot goal, which aims to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen to $1 per 1 kilogram in 1 decade, or “1 1 1.” It also will support DOE’s H2@Scale Initiative, which strives to increase decarbonization efforts across many sectors by making clean hydrogen production, transport, storage, and utilization more affordable. 
 
An additional $20 million has been committed to grid decarbonization efforts. Specifically, this investment will go towards the creation of a university research consortium aimed at implementing grid resilience and decarbonization programs to state and Tribal communities across the U.S. The Hydrogen Shot and University Research Consortium Grid Resilience FOA will address cross-border grid dependencies by coordinating American universities with those in Mexico and Canada to improve electrical interconnections between the three countries. Stakeholders in academia, industry, and national laboratories in multiple technical areas are encouraged to apply for financial assistance awards, especially those applicant teams from minority-serving institutions or those connected to Opportunity Zones.
 
ASME recognizes the crucial role hydrogen will play in the future as a versatile green fuel to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This year ASME published a position statement regarding the need for a more resilient and reliant electrical grid, which further supports DOE’s recent commitment to implementing grid resilience and decarbonization. Click here to read about ASME’s position statement on “Ensuring a Reliable and Resilient Electrical Grid.”
 
For more information on ASME green hydrogen development activities, visit here. 
 
To learn more about the DOE announcement, read the press release here.