The DOE Allocates $62 Million for Hydrogen in Transport & Refueling

DOE Allocates $62 Million for Hydrogen Refueling

The Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced that about $62 million of funding will be allocated to hydrogen projects in the near future. The scope of the proposal is broad, with funds going toward “research, development, demonstration, and deployment of next-generation clean hydrogen technologies.” This should supercharge hydrogen accessibility nationwide, helping more American businesses and individuals leverage the advantages of hydrogen fuel.

This is excellent news for all parties; hydrogen fuel is efficient and, when produced sustainably, environmentally friendly.

Below, we’ll provide some context about the importance of hydrogen fuel for heavy-duty transportation specifically before diving into the implications the DOE’s plan has for the future.

The Importance of Hydrogen in Heavy-Duty Transportation

Hydrogen has been known as a sound alternative fuel for many years, but its viability in heavy-duty industrial contexts is a relatively under-appreciated phenomenon. This specific application is one of many that make hydrogen an especially potent agent for environmental change.

In general, hydrogen’s properties of lightness, energy density, clean production, and versatility make it uniquely apt as a fuel source in broad-ranging use cases. Roadblocks to adoption tend to involve infrastructure or misconceptions about hydrogen’s availability, viability, or safety.

More specifically, recent revelations about hydrogen-powered semi trucks show how hydrogen fuel could revitalize transport and logistics. Hydrogen trucks’ performance and efficiency, along with widespread adoption and investment from key stakeholders, could turn transportation from a major contributor to CO2 emissions to a leader in overall CO2 reduction.

Hydrogen is an ideal solution for heavy-duty trucks, especially compared to other alternative energy sources like electric power. Despite battery technology improvements, currently available capabilities cannot support long-haul and many non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) applications. This is a huge reason the DOE is investing in hydrogen.

The Impact of the DOE’s $62 Million Hydrogen Investment

As noted above, the DOE intends to spread investment in hydrogen energy across a wide variety of individual projects and initiatives. In particular, there are 20 projects spread across 15 states that are set to receive funding. Through this program, the DOE expects to create jobs, create competitiveness with other world economies, and foster equitable access to clean energy.

Per the DOE’s breakdown of funding selections, there are five topic areas all projects fall into:

• Topic 1: Hydrogen Fueling Components – About $8.5M will be spread across four projects developing advanced components for medium- and heavy-duty refueling.

• Topic 2: Stations of the Future – Roughly $40M will be spread across four projects developing low-cost, standardized refueling for commercial and industrial trucks.

• Topic 3: Fuel Cell Port Equipment – Around $2.5M will be dedicated to one project developing niche equipment, like cargo handling or shore power for docked vehicles.

• Topic 4: Permitting and Safety – Approximately $7M will be spread across seven projects, determining challenges across the hydrogen value chain and how to address them.

• Topic 5: Community Engagement – About $4M will be spread across four projects engaging and educating communities about how to leverage hydrogen’s benefits.

Collectively, these areas of focus show how important hydrogen will be to the future of industry and commercial vehicles in the US—and potentially worldwide. Despite some lingering misconceptions about hydrogen fuel safety, policymakers continue paving the way for efficient operations.

What the Future Looks Like for Hydrogen in the US

The long-term implications of the DOE’s investment will broaden hydrogen infrastructure across the country, making it easier for all individuals and businesses to access hydrogen fuel. The immediate impact of better and more fueling infrastructure across the country will be a stronger business case for hydrogen fuel adoption in industrial use cases, like manufacturing.

Greater access to hydrogen will also give more decision-makers more opportunities to make environmental impacts while pursuing efficient, cost-effective fueling options.

Another direct impact will be greater adoption at the individual level, as buyers become more aware of and familiar with hydrogen fuel vehicles as viable alternatives to both traditional gas-powered cars and electric options. This is also true of other commuter options, as the new infrastructure will only hasten hydrogen’s takeover as the future of sustainable mass transit.

FASTECH’s vision for clean energy infrastructure is to help companies and their stakeholders optimize their operations and contribute to environmental conservation with hydrogen fuel.

How FASTECH Can Support Hydrogen Projects

FASTECH is committed to a hydrogen-first future, and we help industrial stakeholders of all kinds prepare for and implement clean energy solutions. We’re happy to hear about this DOE plan, as we know that it will help many organizations overcome roadblocks to hydrogen adoption. More hydrogen refueling infrastructure around the US is a boon to anyone looking for efficient fuel.

We’ve helped countless leaders build, buy, utilize, maintain, and benefit from hydrogen power.

Get in touch today to learn more about our commitment to renewable energy—and our hydrogen infrastructure engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPC+M) services.