The Biden-Harris Administration on Monday released the final version of the first-ever US National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, which sets three key focus points for the development and adoption of this energy resource in the context of the government’s nationwide decarbonisation efforts.
Just as in the draft document published last September, the final strategy outlines strategic opportunities for the production of 10 million tonnes of clean hydrogen a year by 2030, 20 million tonnes by 2040, and 50 million tonnes by 2050.
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The three key strategies bundled within also remain the same: target strategic, high-impact uses for clean hydrogen; reduce the cost of clean hydrogen; and focus on regional networks, including regional clean hydrogen hubs.
The national strategy establishes certain actions and milestones to support sustainable clean hydrogen production. Among them are goals to enable electrolysis-based production at USD 2 (EUR 1.87) per kg in the period 2026-2029 and at USD 1/kg from diverse sources in 2030-2035. Enabling a multi-gigawatt-scale domestic electrolyser manufacturing capacity is an objective for the second half of the current decade.
As shown in the table below, the government envisions three so-called waves of applications when it comes to the adoption of clean hydrogen in the US, based on two key factors – estimated break-even and the relative attractiveness of hydrogen as a decarbonisation solution, as well as stakeholder input.
| First Wave |
Second Wave |
Third Wave |
| Forklifts and other material handling equipment |
Medium-duty trucks |
Backup power & stationary power |
| Refineries |
Regional ferries |
Methanol |
| Transit buses |
Certain industrial chemical production |
Container ships |
| Long-haul heavy-duty trucks |
Steel production |
Cement |
| Heavy machinery in mining, construction and agriculture |
Energy storage & power generation |
Blending with existing natural gas networks |
| Ammonia production |
Aviation |
-- |
The “living document”, which is to be updated at least every three years, reflects on a recent Department of Energy (DoE) report estimating that the US hydrogen economy has the potential to add 100,000 net new direct and indirect jobs by the end of the decade.
US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm stated that this strategy and roadmap “will lay the foundation for a strong and productive partnership between the public and private sectors and will guide government and industry to realise the full potential of this incredibly versatile energy resource.”
(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.933)
Image Credits: Plug Power Inc.
