Biden selects 7 hydrogen hubs across 16 states for $7 billion in US grants

(Reuters, 13 Oct 2023) President Joe Biden will announce in Philadelphia on Friday the recipients of $7 billion in federal grants for the development of regional hydrogen hubs, advancing a key part of his administration's broader plan to decarbonize the U.S. economy.

Seven proposed hubs spanning 16 states from Pennsylvania to California were selected in the program, intended to jumpstart the production of "clean hydrogen" along with the infrastructure needed to get it to industrial users like steelmakers and cement plants. Some 79 proposals had initially applied for the money.

"The regional hydrogen hubs will kickstart a national network of clean hydrogen production, consumers and the connected infrastructure necessary, while supporting the production, storage and delivery and end use of clean hydrogen,” a senior administration official said.

Hydrogen is produced by electrolyzing water, and the fuel can be considered clean – or low emissions -if it is produced using renewable energy, nuclear energy or gas with carbon capture technology attached.

The Biden administration has set a target to increase clean hydrogen output to 10 million tonnes by 2030, and 50 million by 2050, up five-fold from today - and considers the fuel an ideal option for cutting emissions from tough-to-decarbonize industrial users.

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Reuters, 13 Oct 2023: Biden selects 7 hydrogen hubs across 16 states for $7 billion in US grants