Research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) activities to be funded under this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) will support the government-wide approach to the climate crisis by driving the innovation that can lead to the deployment of clean energy technologies, which are critical for climate protection. Specifically, this FOA will support the goals of the H2@Scale Initiative, which aims to advance affordable hydrogen production, transport, storage, and utilization to enable decarbonization and revenue opportunities across multiple sectors. These objectives align with DOE’s Hydrogen Energy Earthshot (Hydrogen Shot), which targets affordable clean hydrogen production at $1/kg by 2031. Advancing technologies that will facilitate the use of clean hydrogen will support the goal of net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. In addition to RDD&D topics, this FOA will focus on enabling hydrogen deployments through safety and permitting support, equitable community engagement, and developing strategies for effective community benefits.

This FOA supports the vision outlined in the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap of affordable clean hydrogen for a net-zero carbon future and a sustainable, resilient, and equitable economy. It targets five topics of interest critical to enabling increased adoption of clean hydrogen technologies across sectors, particularly in medium- and heavy-duty (MD/HD) vehicles and other heavy-duty transportation applications. This FOA’s focus on MD/HD vehicles supports the vision of the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization, including its emphasis on the buildout of fueling corridors.

Increased adoption of hydrogen technologies will help achieve economies of scale and drive down costs, supporting efforts to reach the Hydrogen Shot goal and achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. This FOA directly supports DOE’s Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) Program, an $8 billion federal investment to create networks of hydrogen producers, consumers, and local connective infrastructure to accelerate the use of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier. Improvements in clean hydrogen technologies will also contribute to the long-term viability of the H2Hubs and other commercial-scale deployments.

Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are part of a comprehensive portfolio of solutions to address the climate crisis and position America as a global leader in clean energy technology and clean energy jobs. Hydrogen is a uniquely versatile energy carrier that it can be produced using any form of energy, in almost any part of the country, and it can be used across all sectors of the economy. This versatility means that clean hydrogen can be used in high-impact applications, particularly in the hardest-to-decarbonize sectors of the economy (such as heavy-duty transportation and industrial applications). It can also support the expansion of clean-power generation by providing a means for long-duration energy storage and offering flexibility and multiple revenue streams for clean-power generators and providers. For hydrogen to achieve its potential as an energy carrier, key challenges around affordability, durability, and reliability must still be addressed.

Innovations are needed to reduce the cost and improve the performance of technologies throughout the clean-hydrogen value chain, from production to storage, transportation, and use. Achieving the Hydrogen Shot goal will unlock a significant increase in markets for clean hydrogen, including clean steel manufacturing, clean ammonia, energy storage, and heavy-duty transportation. This will, in turn, create more clean energy jobs, reduce GHG and criteria pollutant emissions, increase energy security and resiliency, and position America for leadership in global markets for clean hydrogen and its derivatives.

The topics in this FOA are:

• Topic 1: Components for Hydrogen Fueling of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles,
• Topic 2: Standardized Hydrogen Refueling Station of the Future,
• Topic 3: Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Powered Port Equipment,
• Topic 4: Enabling Permitting and Safety for Hydrogen Deployment, and
• Topic 5: Equitable Hydrogen Technology Community Engagement.