Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is kicking off a weeklong celebration of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, coming up on October 8, by launching the first ever Hydrogen Business Case Prize Competition. The prize will challenge teams to develop user-friendly analysis tools that identify regional business cases where clean hydrogen can add value to specific sectors and technology applications. The prize also builds upon the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by creating educational and mentorship opportunities for stakeholders with an interest in hydrogen and fuel cells. The Hydrogen Business Case Prize supports DOE’s Hydrogen Shot and the Administration’s goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 by better informing future deployments of clean hydrogen applications.

“In order to meet Hydrogen Shot, we will need diverse talent from all backgrounds and with different perspectives to come together to help us identify out-of-the box solutions,” said Deputy Secretary David Turk. “Today’s announcement is a step towards that direction and I look forward to the ingenuity that the first ever Hydrogen Business Case Prize will spark across students, innovators and collaborators in our nation.”

The DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) will allocate $400,000 to run the prize competition, and leverage DOE’s American Made Challenge network to reach diverse communities across the country. Prize awards will include internships at industry, nonprofit, and national laboratory locations, as well as cash awards and sponsored travel to present at the 2022 Hydrogen Program Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting. HFTO encourages all stakeholders including those from minority serving institutions and economically disadvantaged communities and regions to apply.

To learn more about the Hydrogen Business Case Prize, register for the H2IQ informational webinar on October 8 in conjunction with Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day.

This announcement is part of a weeklong celebration of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, held annually on October 8 in recognition of hydrogen’s atomic weight of 1.008. Learn how you can celebrate Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day with the Energy Department