Fortesque Green Pioneer (Source: Fortesque)

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has allocated $750 million in funds for 52 clean hydrogen projects across 24 states as part of the government’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

The projects are expected to enable U.S. manufacturing capacity to produce 14 GW of fuel cells and 10 GW of electrolyzers per year, the DOE said.

The projects are focused on supporting technological advancements in electrolyzers, improving manufacturing and recycling capabilities, and boosting supply chains.

Eight projects will receive $316 million for low-cost, high-throughput electrolyzer manufacturing,10 projects will be granted $81 million for electrolyzer component and supply chain development, and 18 projects looking at advanced technology and component development will receive $72 million.

Five projects will be given $150 million for advanced manufacturing of fuel cell assemblies and stacks, ten projects developing fuel cell supply chains will receive $82 million, and one consortium will be given $50 million to study recovery and recycling.

“The projects announced today – funded by the President’s Investing in America agenda –  will supercharge our progress and ensure our leadership in clean hydrogen will be felt across the nation for generations to come,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jenifer M. Granholm said.

Fortesque launches ammonia-powered ship

Fortesque, backed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), government agencies, research institutes, and industry partners, has used ammonia, in combination with diesel, for the first time as a marine fuel, the company said.

The vessel, the Fortesque Green Pioneer, is a Singapore-flagged vessel and was loaded with liquid ammonia from the Vopak Banyan Terminal on Jurong Island in the Port of Singapore, for the fuel trial.

The ship’s four-strike engine was converted to run on ammonia and diesel by Fortesque at its land-based testing facility in Perth, Australia in 2022.

Conversion work began on the vessel following the successful land-based testing in July 2023 and included the installation of the gas fuel delivery system, safety systems and infrastructure, and conversion of two of the vessel’s four engines to enable the use of ammonia, in combination with diesel, to power the ship.

The two remaining engines onboard were left to use conventional fuel if required.

The ammonia fuel loading reaffirms the potential for using existing and similar ammonia infrastructure cost-effectively by terminals globally to support the operationalization, commercialization, and progressive scale-up of ammonia as a marine fuel for international shipping, Fortesque said.  

California to offer hydrogen vehicle grants

California will award up to $16 million in funding to support the establishment of hydrogen refueling infrastructure for commercial vehicles as part its incentive program for low-emission transport, non-profit group CALSTART said.

The Energy Infrastructure Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles (EnergIIZE) hydrogen funding lane will be open April 17-May 1, 2024, and is funded by the Californian Energy Commission and administered by CALSTART.

The incentive covers half of eligible equipment and software costs, up to $3 million per project, though this can rise to 75% of eligible equipment and software costs if the applicant meets certain equity criteria, with the maximum amount rising to $4 million per project.

Eligible equipment and software covered for funding includes dispensers, compressors, liquid and gaseous pumps, piping and pipelines, high-pressure storage, chillers, meters, switchgears and electrical panel upgrades, CALSTART said.

Applicants must show proof that their projects are intended for medium- or heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, that refueling stations are capable for dispensing 350-700 bar, and that they meet ASME, ASTM, and NFPA standards.

“This is a great opportunity for fleet users and station owners across California to deploy hydrogen fueling infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and equipment at a reduced cost,” said Director of Infrastructure Incentive Administration, CALSTART Alyssa Haerle.

Canada, Germany sign hydrogen MoU

Canada and Germany, citing the need to move away from Russian fossil fuels and fight climate change, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a first-of-its-kind bilateral program on implementing a transatlantic hydrogen corridor.

The program aims to accelerate commercial-scale hydrogen trade between Canada and Germany, secure early access for clean Canadian hydrogen producers in the German market and strengthen the countries’ efforts to fight climate change and enhance energy security, the Canadian natural resources ministry said.

The MoU was signed by Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and Robert Habeck, German Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

Under the MoU the two countries will work to establish a dedicated Bilateral Window through Germany’s H2Global Foundation that will support commercial transactions between Canada’s hydrogen producers and Germany’s industrial manufacturing and energy distribution sectors, Natural Resources of Canada said.

“Although some challenges remain, we believe that a joint H2 Global Financing Window can play an important role in closing the remaining price gap. This will support the development of H2 production capacity with the aim of increasing the availability of hydrogen,” Habeck said.  

By Reuters Events Hydrogen