California Submits Hydrogen Hub Funding Proposal

California is advancing its plans for a hydrogen hub by initiating a funding proposal that prioritises fuel cell-powered buses.

In collaboration with the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) has presented a proposal to the United States Department of Energy (DOE) seeking federal funding. The aim of the proposal is to establish a regional Hydrogen Hub in a western state.

With the objective of utilising local renewable resources to achieve the complete decarbonisation of the state economy, ARCHES is a public-private partnership operating at a statewide level. Its primary goal is to establish a sustainable clean hydrogen hub.

The partnership consists of various entities, such as the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), the University of California, elected officials, labor unions, private industry, and non-profit organisations. Among these partners is CTE.

As a component of the proposal presented to the DOE by ARCHES, 13 transit agencies in northern and southern California have made a commitment to commence or enhance the deployment of fuel cell buses (FCEBs). The collective objective is to achieve a total of over 1,000 FCEB buses.