42 U.S.C. § 16154: Clean hydrogen research and development program

The Secretary, in consultation with other Federal agencies and the private sector, shall conduct a crosscutting research and development program (referred to in this section as the “program”) on technologies relating to the production, processing, purification, distribution, storage, and use of hydrogen energy, fuel cells, and related infrastructure. to advance research and development to demonstrate and commercialize the use of clean hydrogen in the transportation, utility, industrial, commercial, and residential sectors; and to demonstrate a standard of clean hydrogen production in the transportation, utility, industrial, commercial, and residential sectors by 2040. steadily increase production, distribution, and end use efficiency and reduce life-cycle emissions; resolve critical problems relating to catalysts, membranes, storage, lightweight materials, electronic controls, manufacturability, and other problems that emerge from the program; enhance sources of fossil fuels with carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration, renewable fuels, biofuels, and nuclear energy for hydrogen production; and enable widespread use of distributed electricity generation and storage. In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall support enhanced public education and research conducted at institutions of higher education in fundamental sciences, application design, and systems concepts (including education and research relating to materials, subsystems, manufacturability, maintenance, and safety) relating to hydrogen and fuel cells. the establishment of a series of technology cost goals oriented toward achieving the standard of clean hydrogen production developed under section 16166(a) of this title ; fossil fuels with carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration; hydrogen-carrier fuels (including ethanol and methanol); renewable energy resources, including biomass; nuclear energy; and any other methods the Secretary determines to be appropriate; the use of clean hydrogen for commercial, industrial, and residential electric power generation; the use of clean hydrogen in industrial applications, including steelmaking, cement, chemical feedstocks, and process heat; the use of clean hydrogen for use as a fuel source for both residential and commercial comfort heating and hot water requirements; transmission by pipelines, including retrofitting the existing natural gas transportation infrastructure system to enable a transition to transport and deliver increasing levels of clean hydrogen, clean hydrogen blends, or clean hydrogen carriers; tanks and other distribution methods; and at central refueling stations; or through distributed onsite generation; engine and emission control systems; energy storage, electric propulsion, and hybrid systems; automotive, locomotive, maritime vessel, or plane materials; and other advanced vehicle, locomotive, maritime vessel, or plane technologies; storage of hydrogen or hydrogen-carrier fuels, including the development of materials for safe and economic storage in gaseous, liquid, or solid form; the development of safe, durable, affordable, and efficient fuel cells, including fuel-flexible fuel cell power systems, improved manufacturing processes, high-temperature membranes, cost-effective fuel processing for natural gas, fuel cell stack and system reliability, low-temperature operation, and cold start capability; the ability of domestic clean hydrogen equipment manufacturers to manufacture commercially available competitive technologies in the United States; the use of clean hydrogen in the transportation sector, including in light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles, rail transport, aviation, and maritime applications; and in coordination with relevant agencies, the development of appropriate, uniform codes and standards for the safe and consistent deployment and commercialization of clean hydrogen production, processing, delivery, and end-use technologies. to enable a commitment by automakers no later than year 2015 to offer safe, affordable, and technically viable hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the mass consumer market; and fuel economy that is substantially higher; substantially lower emissions of air pollutants; and equivalent or improved vehicle fuel system crash integrity and occupant protection. safe and convenient refueling; improved overall efficiency; production, with consideration of emissions levels; delivery, including transmission by pipeline and other distribution methods for hydrogen; and storage, including storage in surface transportation vehicles; hydrogen for fuel cells, internal combustion engines, and other energy conversion devices for portable, stationary, micro, critical needs facilities, and transportation applications; and other technologies consistent with the Department’s plan. safe, economical, and environmentally sound hydrogen fuel cells; fuel cells for light duty and other vehicles; and other technologies consistent with the Department’s plan. The Secretary shall carry out the programs under this section using a competitive, merit-based review process and consistent with the generally applicable Federal laws and regulations governing awards of financial assistance, contracts, or other agreements. Activities under this section may be carried out by funding nationally recognized university-based or Federal laboratory research centers. $160,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; $220,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; $230,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2020. $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; $160,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; $170,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; $180,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2020. Not later than 180 days after November 15, 2021 , the Secretary shall establish targets for the program to address near-term (up to 2 years), mid-term (up to 7 years), and long-term (up to 15 years) challenges to the advancement of clean hydrogen systems and technologies.