Ambitious plans to establish a number of regional hydrogen hubs across the United States moved closer after the US administration announced a final short list of seven regional projects on 13 October. 

The seven shortlisted projects have been allocated a proportion of a US$7 billion fund to develop renewable hydrogen hubs (H2Hubs). If all the shortlisted projects proceed, they will produce 3 million tonnes of hydrogen per year, representing almost one-third of the US’s 2030 production target of 10 mt.

The initial tranche of the US$7bn award will be allocated for the development of detailed project proposals, with the bulk of the funding awaiting US Department of Energy (DoE) approval for the project plans.

The projects are expected to attract co-funding from individual project participants of up to US$40bn, which could potentially lead to a US$50bn investment in renewable hydrogen production in the US if all the projects proceed.