(Washington / USA) – US Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm has announced an “Energy Earthshots” initiative. This should achieve a breakthrough in the generation and use of “affordable, reliable, clean energy solutions” within a decade.
The first “Energy Earthshot” is the “Hydrogen Shot,” according to the Department of Energy (DOE): The aim is to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen by 80 percent to one dollar (0,82 euros) per kilogram within a decade. This will help address the climate crisis and more quickly achieve the Biden/Harris administration's goal of zero carbon emissions by 2050. At the same time, well-paying jobs would be created and the economy would grow.
With Energy Earthshots, the ministry is calling for accelerating innovation and collaboration and “addressing the most difficult remaining barriers to deploying clean energy technologies quickly and at scale,” said Minister Granholm. The “Hydrogen Shot” is intended as a first step to “stimulate demand for clean hydrogen”. This will help decarbonise the heavy goods and industrial sectors.
Nuclear power is part of the plan
Hydrogen from renewable energies currently costs around five dollars per kilogram. If these costs were reduced by 80 percent, “we could increase demand fivefold by increasing the production of clean hydrogen from renewables, nuclear power and thermal conversion.” This would create jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enable America to compete globally in the clean energy market.
As part of the new hydrogen program, the DOE invited interested stakeholders to submit their ideas for projects through a prepared questionnaire (Request for Information (RFI), including specific locations that can help reduce hydrogen costs, carbon emissions and local air pollution to reduce, create well-paying jobs and provide benefits to disadvantaged communities.
Industry, investors, developers, academics, research laboratories, government agencies and other stakeholders are expected to provide feedback by July 7th. Specifically, the DOE is primarily concerned with regional hydrogen production, resources and infrastructure for end users, but also with diversity, equality, integration and jobs in connection with a hydrogen economy.
A year ago, in July 2020, the Ministry of Energy announced investments of 2 million dollars (100 million euros) in two new consortia led by the “National Laboratories” as part of the “H89@scale” program to carry out the research and development of hydrogen - and fuel cell technologies (we reported).
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US Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm / © Department of Energy, DOE
