NETL Director Brian Anderson, Ph.D., will speak at the Hydrogen Shot Summit, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) event set for Tuesday, Aug. 31, and Wednesday, Sept. 1, to accelerate the development of breakthrough technologies that can expand the use and lower the cost of this clean-burning fuel.

“Researchers at NETL and our partners are advancing technologies capable of improving the performance, reliability and flexibility of methods to produce, transport, store and use hydrogen. The summit provides opportunities to share the steps we are taking to develop hydrogen as viable zero-emission fuel to fight climate change,” Anderson said.

The Hydrogen Shot Summit is the first undertaking in DOE’s Energy Earthshots Initiative, which was established in June by Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm as an all-hands-on-deck call for innovation, collaboration and acceleration to drive development of clean energy solutions within the decade.

The Hydrogen Shot Summit will convene thousands of stakeholders online to introduce the Hydrogen Shot, which seeks to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen (H₂) by 80% to $1 per 1 kilogram in 1 decade (“1 1 1”), solicit dialogue and rally the global community on the urgency of tackling the climate crisis through concrete actions and innovation.

Currently, hydrogen from renewable energy costs about $5 per kilogram. Achieving the Hydrogen Shot’s 80% cost reduction goal can unlock new markets for hydrogen, including uses in steelmaking and energy storage, production of clean ammonia and other applications. Hydrogen produced from natural gas with carbon capture can currently be produced for about $1.50/kg H₂, so fossil energy is currently the most affordable route to clean hydrogen.  

In addition to an extensive in-house research program, NETL manages a robust portfolio of projects to unlock the full potential of hydrogen. For example, NETL researchers are actively exploring the potential of gasification and reforming technologies for carbon-neutral production of hydrogen for use as a clean fuel for electrical generation, manufacturing and transportation.

“Our work will help the nation meet the Biden-Harris Administration’s goals calling for net-zero carbon emissions in the electricity sector by 2035 and economy-wide net-zero emissions by 2050, create clean energy jobs in communities that have struggled to recover from declines in mining and energy production, and position America to compete in the clean energy market on a global scale,” said Anderson, who also serves as executive director of the Interagency Working Group (IWG) on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization.  

The two-day summit will bring together stakeholders from industry, research, academia and government to identify pathways to meet DOE’s Hydrogen Shot goals. Bill Gates, founder, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, will deliver the keynote address at 11:20 a.m. EDT on Aug. 31. At 12:45 p.m. EDT, Anderson will participate in a lightning round of discussion in which he and other national lab directors will share their perspectives on hydrogen production and usage.

The summit also will feature breakout sessions covering multiple hydrogen production pathways and other topics, including:

• Electrolysis
• Thermal conversion with carbon capture and storage
• Advanced pathways
• Deployment and financing

Click here for registration information and to review the preliminary plenary agenda.

NETL is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory that drives innovation and delivers technological solutions for an environmentally sustainable and prosperous energy future. By leveraging its world-class talent and research facilities, NETL is ensuring affordable, abundant and reliable energy that drives a robust economy and national security, while developing technologies to manage carbon across the full life cycle, enabling environmental sustainability for all Americans.