The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) announced on August 1 the first tranches of funding for the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub, Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub, and California Hydrogen Hub, three of the seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) unveiled in late 2023 that make up a massive $7 billion support program centered around hydrogen infrastructure development.
OCED awarded the California Hydrogen Hub—led by the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES)—with $30 million of the total project federal cost share of up to $1.2 billion to begin Phase 1 of the project plan. OCED awarded the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub—led by the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association (PNWH2)—with $27.5 million of the total federal cost share of up to $1 billion to begin Phase 1 of its project plan. The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2)—led by Battelle—received $30 million of the total project federal cost share of up to $925 million to begin Phase 1 of its plan.
During Phase 1, which is expected to last up to 18 months, ARCHES will conduct planning, analysis, and design activities in addition to ongoing stakeholder and community engagement. ARCHES is leading the effort to build a network of clean hydrogen production sites that incorporate multiple facilities at California ports, with the goal of decarbonizing public transportation, heavy-duty trucking, and port operations by 2 million metric tons per year—roughly the equivalent to annual emissions of 445,000 gasoline-powered cars. View the ARCHES project fact sheet and community benefits commitments summary.
The expansion of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in heavy-duty transportation aims to not only drive improvements in air quality along high-pollution interstate transportation corridors but also to facilitate greater connectivity and expansion of a clean West Coast freight network that links the California and Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hubs.
ARCH2 will work to reduce emissions and pollution that have long affected air quality in Appalachian communities. The hub intends to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 9 million metric tons per year—equivalent to the annual emissions of more than 2 million gasoline-powered cars. During Phase 1, which is expected to last up to 36 months, ARCH2 plans to conduct planning, analysis, and design activities in addition to ongoing stakeholder and community engagement across West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. View the ARCH2 project fact sheet and community benefits commitments summary.
PNWH2 is working to build a clean hydrogen ecosystem across Washington, Oregon, and Montana that leverages the region’s abundant renewable resources to produce hydrogen exclusively via electrolysis using clean, carbon-free energy. PNWH2 aims to reduce emissions in hard-to-decarbonize industries, including transportation, agriculture, and electricity generation industries, with the goal of reducing carbon emissions by approximately 1.7 million metric tons per year. During Phase 1, which is expected to last 12–18 months, PNWH2 will conduct foundational activities, including planning, analysis, design, and community and labor engagement. View the PNWH2 project fact sheet and community benefits commitments summary.
The Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs Program (H2Hubs) includes up to $7 billion to establish regional clean hydrogen hubs across America. Part of a larger $8 billion hydrogen hub program funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the H2Hubs will form the foundation of a national clean hydrogen network that will contribute substantially to decarbonizing multiple sectors of the economy, like heavy industries (steel and cement production) and heavy-duty transportation. Learn more.
