The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a notice of intent for potential funding to accelerate the research, development and demonstration (RD&D) of affordable clean-H₂ and fuel cell technologies to drive national decarbonization. The potential funding will focus on advancing technologies for H₂ production, H₂ infrastructure and fuel cells, as well as demonstrating H₂ and fuel cells in new, high-impact applications. These efforts will support the vision embodied in the U.S. National Clean H₂ Strategy and Roadmap of affordable clean H₂ for a net-zero carbon future and a sustainable, resilient and equitable economy.

DOE's H₂ and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) would administer the potential funding, which is expected to focus on scaling up advanced H₂-production processes, improving materials for H₂ infrastructure, developing critical components for fuel cells in heavy-duty transportation applications, and demonstrating H₂ fuel cell electric coach buses. By advancing and demonstrating key technologies across the clean H₂ value chain, from production to end use, activities funded under this opportunity will provide near-term support to large-scale industry investments, including DOE's Regional Clean H₂ Hubs (H2Hubs) Program, while further reinforcing the long-term viability of the H2Hubs and other commercial-scale deployments.

Potential topic areas include:

• Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting device scale up will develop and demonstrate PEC water splitting devices using low-cost, scalable synthesis and fabrication techniques.
• High-performance materials for H₂ service, including cryogenic and/or high-pressure conditions will develop advanced materials for use in high-pressure H₂ storage tanks, cryogenic service conditions and fiber reinforced polymer H₂
• Sustainable high-temperature proton exchange membranes and ionomers for heavy-duty transportation applications will develop membranes and ionomers (key components of fuel cells) suitable for high temperature operation (up to 120°C) in heavy-duty fuel cell applications, without the use of perfluorosulfonic acid.
• Domestic H₂ fuel cell electric motorcoach bus development and demonstration will develop and demonstrate domestically produced fuel cell electric motorcoach buses suitable for long-haul service.

For all topic areas, HFTO envisions awarding financial assistance awards in the form of cooperative agreements with periods of performance ranging from approximately two to four years.