The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $750 MM in funding for 52 projects across 24 states to dramatically reduce the cost of clean H₂ and reinforce American leadership in the growing H₂ industry. Among the recipients, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) was selected to lead H2CIRC, a new “recovery and recycling” consortium charged with developing innovative and practical approaches to enable the recovery, recycling, and reuse of materials and components for H₂ fuel cells and electrolyzers.

This development will be supported by federal funding to be awarded to AIChE for the H₂ Electrolyzer and Fuel Cell Recycling Consortium, which totals $50 MM over 5 yr. Additional DOE funding is being awarded for projects including low-cost, high-throughput electrolyzer manufacturing; electrolyzer component and supply chain development; advanced technology and component development; advanced manufacturing of fuel cell assemblies and stacks; and fuel cell supply chain development.

H2CIRC includes partners across the value chain of electrolyzers and fuel cells: Accelera by Cummins; Delaware State University; General Motors, LLC; Heraeus Precious Metals; Johnson Matthey; National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Nel Hydrogen; Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Plug Power; The Chemours Company; University of Delaware; University of Houston; and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. AIChE and its consortium partners will establish a blueprint across the industry for recycling electrolyzer and fuel cell systems and components, aimed at securing long-term supply chain security and environmental sustainability.

The DOE’s announcement represents the first phase of implementation of two provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which authorizes $1 B for research, development, demonstration and deployment (RDD&D) activities to reduce the cost of clean H₂ produced via electrolysis and $500 MM for research, development and demonstration (RD&D) of improved processes and technologies for manufacturing and recycling clean H₂ systems and materials. These projects will directly produce more than 1,500 new jobs, along with thousands of additional jobs indirectly generated through regional economic activity. Additionally, these projects will provide support to 32 disadvantaged communities.