New York Launches $14M Initiative for Clean Hydrogen Research, Development, and Demonstration

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $14 million initiative to advance clean hydrogen research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects.

This action directly supports the Climate Leadership and Community Project Act’s goals of reducing emissions by 85% by 2050 and transitioning to 100% zero-emissions electricity by 2040. Funding for this initiative was provided through New York’s 10-year $6 billion Clean Energy Fund.

“New York State is… committed to staying ahead of the curve in this new industry,” said Governor Hochul. “Through our support for emerging innovation in the hydrogen field, we are solidifying our leadership position in developing this alternative fuel to help reduce emissions, create the jobs of the future in our state, and secure a healthy and sustainable New York for generations to come.”

The first round of funding will provide up to $8 million for projects that address the challenges of decarbonizing industrial process heat while advancing clean hydrogen production and renewable energy integration. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is currently accepting applications from either single entities or teams, and proposals must fall within one of four distinct categories:

1. Feasibility and Research Studies – Conduct preliminary research into new products, systems, strategies, or services for ultimate product development and commercialization.
2. Product Development – Advance efforts crucial to the development of a marketable technology product, system, strategy, or service and testing or validation of an innovation not commercially available that may lead to the commercialization of products manufactured in New York.
3. Pilot and Demonstration Projects - Demonstrate and test innovative technologies, systems, strategies, or services that require testing to reach commercialization or are already commercially available but have not yet gained industry acceptance or significant deployment in New York.
4. Federal Cost Share Projects - Provide New York-based companies funding to achieve Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), DOE, US National Laboratory, or other federal funding award cost-sharing requirements, and increase the likelihood of successful company development and technology commercialization.

The second round of funding will provide up to $5.8 million for areas including the mitigation of nitrogen oxide emissions from hydrogen combustion, hydrogen storage technologies, and hydrogen-based generation systems for microgrids and grid support services.

“New York is fostering a clean-hydrogen ecosystem that supports our emissions reduction goals while advancing the technology needed to scale this growing and impactful resource,” said Doreen Harris, NYSERDA President and CEO and Climate Action Council Co-Chair. “Each project awarded will become a part of the State’s holistic plan to support the exploration of hydrogen as a resource while advancing the development of a connected network of projects across the state that will increase job opportunities, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and help us better integrate renewables onto the grid.”