Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office FOA to Advance the National Clean Hydrogen Strategy

Department of Energy DE-FOA-0003213

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,6 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. As shown in the H2@Scale vision illustrated in Figure 1, 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. 

EERE anticipates making approximately 17 to 32 awards under this FOA. EERE may issue one, multiple, or no awards. Individual awards may vary between $250,000 and $10,000,000. 

An entity may submit more than one Concept Paper and Full Application to this FOA, provided that each application describes a unique, scientifically distinct project and an eligible Concept Paper was submitted for each Full Application.

EERE expects to make a total of approximately $59,000,000 of federal funding available for new awards under this FOA, subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

Please contact the program director.

Submission Deadline for Concept Papers: 1/26/2024 5:00 p.m. ET

3/22/2024 5:00 p.m. ET

For questions regarding the content of this FOA:
H2FCFOA@ee.doe.gov
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