The U.S. Energy Dept says it will launch the process next month to award the first half of $1.5 billion allocated in the 2021 federal infrastructure law for technology research, development and demonstration projects to “dramatically reduce” costs to develop and refine gaps in clean hydrogen alternative power.
The $750-million funding is “set to advance electrolysis technologies and improve manufacturing and recycling capabilities for hydrogen and fuel cells,” DOE said in a March 15 announcement—with the Biden administration intent to cut costs of hydrogen produced from emissions-free power such as wind, solar and hydroelectric to $1 per kilogram in a decade, from about $5 per kg currently. Federal funds would also aim to find ways to cut production costs for electrolyzers—which produce clean hydrogen from water—to $2 per kg by 2026.