California Energy Commission Announces $17.3 M in Funding for Hydrogen Infrastructure

(FuelCellsWorks) The California Energy Commission recently released a $17.3-million solicitation (GFO-15-605) for hydrogen stations in California.

$17.3 million funding opportunity for light-duty hydrogen stations in California
O&M funding for stations previously funded with CEC grant
New station funding for I5 connector and “main stations”
Proposals due July 15, 2016
Pre-application workshop on April 26

Assembly Bill (AB) 118 (Nùñez, Chapter 750, Statutes of 2007), created the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP). The statute authorizes the California Energy Commission (Energy Commission) to develop and deploy alternative and renewable fuels and advanced transportation technologies to help attain the state’s climate change policies. AB 8 (Perea, Chapter 401, Statutes of 2013) re-authorizes the ARFVTP through January 1, 2024, and specifies that the Energy Commission allocate up to $20 million per year (or up to 20 percent of each fiscal year’s funds) in funding for hydrogen station development up to 100 stations.

The purpose of this solicitation is to provide grant funds to expand the network of publicly accessible hydrogen refueling stations that serve California’s light duty fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).

The Energy Commission will make available two categories of Capital Expense (Cap-X) funding. Operation and Maintenance (O&M) funding is also available for stations whose capital expenses are funded under this solicitation. This solicitation places a preference on hydrogen refueling stations that fill hydrogen refueling station coverage gaps and hydrogen refueling capacity gaps in California.

Improvements to the network of hydrogen refueling stations and an expected corresponding increase in FCEVs will support the carbon reduction and air quality improvement goals of the State of California, such as the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, which calls for sufficient alternative refueling infrastructure to support up to 1 million ZEVs by 2020, reaching 1.5 million ZEVs on the road in California by 2025. Hydrogen FCEVs are expected to play a critical role in meeting the ZEV Mandate targets. A growing hydrogen station network will also contribute to the mix of alternative fuels needed to implement the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), which is designed to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels by 10 percent by 2020.

All projects funded under this solicitation must support the future deployment of FCEVs. The Energy Commission expects that projects funded under this solicitation will continue to expand the initial foundation of the statewide infrastructure network, encourage greater FCEV adoption among consumers, and facilitate hydrogen fuel providers’ entry to this emerging market. READ MORE