As of November 20, 2024, the US Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $2.2 billion in award commitments for two Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) that will accelerate commercial-scale deployment of low-cost, clean hydrogen. [1] The two awardees – Gulf Coast H2Hub and Midwest H2Hub – are critical pillars of the program. DOE is committing $1.2 billion of federal cost share for the Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub and up to $1 billion of the federal cost share for the Midwest Hydrogen Hub. These awards follow three previously awarded H2Hubs and will collectively drive private-sector investment in clean hydrogen.
Clean hydrogen is a flexible carrier that can be produced from a wide range of domestic energy resources, such as renewables, nuclear, and fossil resources with carbon capture. Its unique characteristics enable the hubs to reduce harmful emissions from energy-intensive sectors like chemical and industrial processes, and heavy-duty transportation. The seven selected hubs are expected to collectively produce millions of metric tons of hydrogen annually.