Advancing Clean Hydrogen Technology for a Net-Zero Emissions Future
Key Ideas
- The U.S. DOE is providing up to $15 million in funding to support the development of clean hydrogen from various feedstocks to enable its widespread use in electricity, industry, and transportation.
- The initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions and costs associated with clean hydrogen production, aligning with the Biden-Harris Administration's goal of achieving a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
- Research areas include gasification technologies for alternative feedstocks, emphasizing the importance of societal considerations such as diversity, equity, and inclusion in the projects.
- The technology advancements funded by DOE's Hydrogen Shot initiative target an 80% cost reduction to $1 per kilogram of clean hydrogen within a decade to promote the commercialization of clean hydrogen pathways in the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management has announced a funding opportunity of up to $15 million to accelerate the availability and affordability of clean hydrogen as a fuel for electricity, industry, and transportation. This initiative is crucial in supporting the Biden-Harris Administration's ambitious goal of achieving a net-zero emissions economy by 2050. The funding will be directed towards research and development projects focusing on converting diverse feedstocks like coal, biomass, petcoke, household waste, and waste plastics into synthesis gas to enable low-cost clean hydrogen production. By advancing technologies that utilize waste and various feedstocks, coupled with carbon capture and storage, the aim is to reduce the carbon footprint and production costs associated with clean hydrogen.
The funding opportunity announcement solicits projects in two main areas of interest: entrained flow gasification technologies and fluidized bed gasification technologies for alternative feedstocks. Emphasis is placed on societal considerations including diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility throughout the research and development process. Applicants are required to demonstrate how their projects will deliver equitable access to benefits from successful technological innovations.
The technological advancements supported by this initiative will contribute to DOE's Hydrogen Shot program, which targets an 80% reduction in the cost of clean hydrogen to $1 per kilogram within a decade. This reduction aims to pave the way for the commercial development of new clean hydrogen pathways across the United States. By leveraging these advancements, the DOE aims to minimize environmental and climate impacts from fossil fuels and industrial processes, working towards achieving net-zero emissions economy-wide. Key technology areas of focus include carbon capture, carbon conversion, hydrogen production with carbon management, and methane emissions reduction.
Overall, the initiative signifies a positive step towards advancing clean hydrogen technology, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting sustainable energy practices in the United States.