NETL Director Brian Anderson, Ph.D., addressed issues related to deployment of clean energy technologies such as decarbonized hydrogen production and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) during a 2022 Policy Impact event organized by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Wednesday, May 18.

As ASME's second annual premier legislative event, Policy Impact 2022 was a virtual gathering that showcased experts in clean energy, workforce development, the supply chain, and other topics pertaining to America’s ongoing transition to carbon-neutral power and associated economic opportunities. Policy Impact and events like it serve as a nonbiased resource to connect engineering expertise with the policymaking process.

Anderson joined Sunita Satyapal, director of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and DOE Acting Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Andrew Griffith for “U.S. Clean Energy Deployment and Decarbonization Priorities.”

The Lab continues to drive innovation and deliver solutions to meet the Administration goals of a net-zero carbon emission electricity sector by 2035 and economy-wide net-zero emissions by 2050.

To reach the goals of sustainable energy while powering the modern high-tech economy, NETL is pursuing options for hydrogen power sourced from America’s vast fossil resources. Hydrogen offers potential as a viable zero-emission fuel to fight climate change. Researchers are working to lower the cost of clean hydrogen and unlock new markets. Hydrogen can be a valuable energy source for steelmaking, ammonia production and more.

“Decades of research on CCUS and large-scale fossil fuel production, infrastructure, and power systems uniquely position NETL to deliver solutions to challenging hydrogen R&D challenges across the hydrogen value chain,” Anderson said. "NETL is at the forefront of evaluating the techno-economics and life cycle emissions of fossil fuel-based hydrogen production technologies. These resources are especially needed to implement the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes $8 billion in funding for the buildout of at least four regional hydrogen hubs over the next decade."

The Lab is also exploring the potential of gasification for carbon-neutral hydrogen production, which could supply a clean fuel for electrical generation, manufacturing and transportation.  

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.