Hydrogen is quickly becoming one of the most essential renewable energies in the US as the nation aims to lower greenhouse gases and lessen its reliance on fossil fuels. There has been, and there continues to be, careful planning regarding how the hydrogen initiatives are going to be flawlessly executed. A massive advantage is that the government is involved in most projects, as seen in the latest one, where the US Energy Department published a long-term strategy for hydrogen and fuel-cell technology development.
A general overview of the US Department’s approach towards hydrogen development
It is not a secret that the US Department of Energy (DoE) is on a quest to fulfill an all-of-government strategy to rejuvenate the clean hydrogen economy while focusing on reducing the production costs. Hydrogen Energy Earthshot is an initiative that was launched in 2021 to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen by 80% to $1 per 1 kilogram within one decade. There was meticulous planning and great attention to detail that went into developing this initiative as America aims to solidify its spot as one of the leading nations in hydrogen generation.
The long-term strategy for hydrogen and fuel-cell technology development
The Department of Energy’s long-term strategy aims to guide federal research and development in hydrogen and fuel-cell technologies. It is very crucial that the US government is involved in the energy projects that are being pursued because this provides greater assurance that the developments will come to fruition. Ultimately, the country has taken a massive step in its aspirations to achieve a cleaner, more reliable energy future. What exactly is this long-term strategy?
The DoE developed a new Multi-Year Program Plan (MYPP) that provides a detailed record of the objectives, targets, and necessary actions that can quicken innovation across the hydrogen value chain.
Understanding why the US Energy Department focused on hydrogen and fuel-cell technology
Some people did question why the department elected to invest in these specific sources of energy when there are many other reliable sources like wind and solar. What those people are unaware of is that hydrogen and fuel cells are increasingly becoming critical tools for decarbonizing in specific industries that are not as easy as the general ones.
These include the heavy transportation sector and industrial heat, which are massive contributors to the high amount of greenhouse gases on Earth. The DoE’s strategy consists of performance targets and creates a step-by-step process for research and development over the coming decade.
Delayed gratification: How the US will benefit from hydrogen and fuel cell technology development
The MYPP is a strategic ploy to integrate RD&D activities across DoE and collaborate with various groups to ensure that they are aware of what is happening every step of the way. For instance, this includes the industry stakeholders, national laboratories, and the general public. The plan also aims to highlight the different routes for generating hydrogen most efficiently, developing the necessary infrastructure to execute specific initiatives, and implementing fuel-cell technologies.
Some of the targets that the department hopes to achieve in the next decade include reducing hydrogen production costs to US$2 per kilogram by 2026 and US$1 per kilogram by 2031, bringing electrolyzer costs under US$250 per kilowatt for low-temperature systems and cutting fuel cell system costs for heavy-duty vehicles to roughly US$80 per kilowatt by 2030.
The US Department of Energy’s involvement in this particular initiative shows how it is going to play a significant role in assisting the nation in achieving its overall goals. Additionally, the US gets to kill two birds with one stone by reducing greenhouse gases and improving the economy by creating employment opportunities for people. The overarching objective is to make hydrogen and fuel cell technologies replace traditional fossil fuels slowly but surely over time.
