- The hydrogen hub will share $7 billion in federal grants.
- Biden administration wants to scale up clean hydrogen output to 10 million metric tons of fuel by 2030.
The Biden administration has unveiled seven proposed “hydrogen hubs” in 16 states. The hydrogen hub will share $7 billion in federal grants to jumpstart the emerging industry. Officials hope the hubs will clean up some of the biggest carbon-emitting industrial sectors. The regional hubs are networks of hydrogen producers and consumers that will be linked with new and existing infrastructure.
Also, the Biden administration wants to scale up clean hydrogen output to 10 million metric tons of fuel by 2030 and 50 million tons by 2050. The winning hydrogen hubs proposals include Mid-Atlantic Hub Pennsylvania, awarded $750 million. The fund will help unlock hydrogen-driven decarbonisation in the Mid-Atlantic and repurpose historic oil infrastructure. Job creation expectations: 14,400 construction jobs and 6,400 permanent jobs. Further, Appalachian Hub, West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, awarded $925 million. The hub will seek to leverage the region’s ample access to low-cost natural gas to produce low-cost clean hydrogen. They will permanently and safely store the associated carbon emissions. Job creation expectations: 18,000 construction jobs and more than 3,000 permanent jobs.
Also, California Hub California awarded $1.2 billion. The California hub will leverage the state’s existing clean energy technology to produce hydrogen exclusively from renewable energy and biomass. Job creation expectations: 130,000 construction jobs and 90,000 permanent jobs. Gulf Coast Hub Texas awarded $1.2 billion. Likewise, the hub plans for large-scale hydrogen production through natural gas with carbon capture and renewables-powered electrolysis. Job creation expectations: 35,000 construction jobs and 10,000 permanent jobs. Additionally, Heartland Hub Minnesota was awarded $925 million. The hub seeks to leverage the region’s energy resources to help decarbonize the agricultural sector’s production of fertilizer, decrease the regional cost of clean hydrogen and advance the use of clean hydrogen in electric generation and for cold climate space heating. Job creation expectations: 3,067 construction jobs and 703 permanent jobs.
Furthermore, Midwest Hub, Illinois, was awarded $1 billion. Centred in the U.S. industrial and transportation corridor, the hub will power steel and glass production, power generation, refining, heavy-duty transportation and sustainable aviation fuel. Job creation expectations: 12,100 construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs. Pacific Northwest Hub Washington, awarded $1 billion. This hub will make clean hydrogen exclusively from renewable sources. Also, the administration hopes this hub’s scale will play a key role in driving down electrolyser costs and making hydrogen more affordable. It also expects job creation to reach 8,050 construction jobs and 350 permanent jobs.