Clean hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are important elements of a comprehensive energy portfolio, particularly for use in hard-to-decarbonize sectors of the economy (such as heavy-duty transportation and industrial applications) and to enable long duration energy storage for a clean electric grid. These elements directly support the Administration’s goals of achieving carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035 and net-zero emissions economy-wide by no later than 2050, benefiting all Americans.

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) supports the vision outlined in the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, affordable clean hydrogen for a net-zero carbon future and a sustainable, resilient, and equitable economy. The FOA will target Research, Development, Demonstration & Deployment (RDD&D) topics critical to enabling increased adoption of clean hydrogen across sectors, particularly in heavy-duty (HD) vehicles and other heavy-duty transportation applications, which supports the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization, including the buildout of fueling corridors. Increased adoption of hydrogen technologies will help achieve economies of scale and drive down costs, directly supporting 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. Activities funded under this FOA will also align with the H2@Scale Initiative, which aims to advance affordable hydrogen production, transport, storage, and utilization to enable decarbonization and revenue opportunities across multiple sectors. The FOA’s objectives support DOE’s Hydrogen Shot goal, which targets affordable clean hydrogen production at $1/kg within a decade. In addition to RD&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.

EERE anticipates the FOA may include the following Areas of Interest:

• Components for Hydrogen Fueling of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles to develop advanced components for gaseous and/or liquid hydrogen dispensing;
• Standardized Hydrogen Refueling Station of the Future to develop and demonstrate a low-cost, standardized, and replicable hydrogen fueling station that reduces operating and capital cost and offers scalability and hydrogen fuel flexibility (e.g., gaseous vs liquid);
• Enabling Permitting and Safety for Hydrogen Deployment to identify and address the primary challenges to siting, permitting, and installation across the value chain from hydrogen production through end-uses;
• Equitable Hydrogen Technology Community Engagement to design and implement activities focused on understanding the concerns of communities and providing education on hydrogen technologies.

For all topic areas, DOE envisions awarding financial assistance awards in the form of cooperative agreements with periods of performance ranging from approximately two to four years and DOE encourages applicant teams that include stakeholders within academia, industry, and national laboratories across multiple technical disciplines. Teams are also encouraged to include representation from diverse entities such as minority-serving institutions.

DOE plans to issue the FOA in December 2023 or in January 2024.

This notice of intent (NOI) is issued so that interested parties are aware of DOE’s intention to issue this FOA in the near term. All the information contained in this NOI is subject to change. DOE will not respond to questions concerning this NOI. Once the FOA has been released, DOE will provide an avenue for potential applicants to submit questions.