The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) has asked the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) to submit an application for a regional clean hydrogen hub funding opportunity announcement (FOA). 

The ARCH2’s mission is to accelerate America’s decarbonization transition by building a sustainable hydrogen hub in northern Appalachia that can integrate into a national clean hydrogen network. 

The OCED, established in December 2021 by the DOE, was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to accelerate clean energy technology.

“Through a collaboration with experienced industry partners, we will leverage the existing infrastructure and abundant energy resources of the Appalachian region to enable clean, economy-scale hydrogen production,” Dr. Paula Gant, president and CEO of GTI Energy, a founder of ARCH2, said in a press release. 

“DOE’s encouragement to move forward signals the potential for the ARCH2 hub to make major economic and environmental impacts in a historically underserved part of the country,” she continued.

Appalachia’s access to low-cost natural gas feedstock, end-user demand, workforce and technology capability and carbon sequestration potential make the area ideal for the development of a hydrogen hub. 

“There is a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate how natural gas can play a leading role in the world’s transition to lower carbon energy solutions,” said Toby Z. Rice, president and CEO of EQT Corp. “The world is demanding cheaper, more reliable and cleaner energy. We believe the use of Appalachia’s extremely low emissions natural gas to create clean hydrogen can act as a strategic foundation for America’s transition toward decarbonization.”

ARCH2 currently consists of over 120 partners. Formed by the State of West Virginia, EQT Corp., Battelle Memorial Institute, GTI Energy and Allegheny Science & Technology, the hub has grown to include other entities such as private sector industry leaders, universities, non-profits and state agencies. 

The FOA is in accordance with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.