Southeast Hydrogen Hub submits application to DOE for clean hydrogen funding

A coalition called the Southeast Hydrogen Hub has submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for funding to build a green hydrogen network in the region.

The coalition’s plan is to develop a regional hydrogen hub that will allow members to deploy green hydrogen as a decarbonization solution for customers and communities. It would help meet the growing demand for clean energy sources in the Southeast, particularly in the transportation, industry, and power generation sectors. In addition to decarbonization, it would bring economic benefits and jobs to the region.

The proposed Southeast Hydrogen Hub would span six states and include several major utilities. Specifically, members of the coalition include Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Louisville Gas & Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company (LG&E and KU), Southern Company, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Battelle.

The effort has the backing of political leaders on both sides of the aisle, as U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA), among others, sent a letter to the DOE in support of the plan.

“The Southeast Hydrogen Hub coalition’s member states are home to many of the nation’s leading transportation, logistics, energy, manufacturing, and research assets. We are heartened by the Department of Energy’s encouraging notification in response to the coalition’s concept paper and urge the Department to select the Southeast Hydrogen Hub coalition for funding. We stand ready to provide long-term support for the Southeast Hydrogen Hub’s implementation and growth,” the letter said.

The coalition is seeking funding from the $8 billion made available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to create regional clean hydrogen hubs.

The Southeast Hydrogen Hub coalition was one of 79 potential hubs to submit initial concept papers to the DOE in 2022. In late December, the DOE issued notices to the coalition and 32 other applicants encouraging them to proceed with submitting full applications by April 7. The final funding decisions should be made by the fall of 2023.