The answer is in the numbers! The atomic weight of hydrogen is 1.008, which can be shortened to 10/08—a calendar date. That’s why October 8 is recognized as National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, an annual celebration of hydrogen and its critical role in transitioning to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
Hydrogen, especially clean hydrogen, produced with zero or near-zero emissions from renewable energy, nuclear power, or natural gas with carbon capture, is a key player in this energy transformation. Clean hydrogen has the potential to fuel energy storage, provide power for transportation sectors that are challenging to decarbonize and help industries move away from fossil fuels.
Hydrogen is widely used in various industries, including fertilizer production, petroleum refining, steelmaking, and food processing. It’s even found in the cosmetics industry! In the U.S. alone, we produce around 10 million metric tons of hydrogen annually for these purposes, though most come from natural gas, contributing to significant CO2 emissions. By switching to clean hydrogen, we could dramatically reduce environmental impact while growing the infrastructure for hydrogen production, making it more accessible and affordable.
Looking ahead, clean hydrogen has the potential to become an integral part of everyday life. It can store energy generated by excess wind and solar power and feed that energy back into the grid when needed, helping to stabilize the power supply and expand renewable energy generation. Hydrogen can also be used as fuel for zero-emission ships, airplanes, trucks, and buses—transporting people and goods while cutting down on carbon emissions.
Today, hydrogen technologies are expanding across various sectors. For example, in the U.S., we have over 620 megawatts (MW) of electrolyzers (which produce hydrogen by splitting water with electricity) in place or planned. Over 50,000 hydrogen-powered forklifts are operating in warehouses, and more than 500 MW of backup power fuel cells, many of them hydrogen-fueled, are keeping critical systems online during blackouts. While the progress is exciting, challenges such as cost and scalability still need to be addressed for hydrogen to reach its full potential in the U.S. energy system.
The Department of Energy (DOE) and its Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) are working to unlock the potential of hydrogen to decarbonize multiple sectors, create jobs, and support President Biden’s climate goals. Through initiatives like Hydrogen Shot, H2@Scale, and the H2Hubs, the DOE is collaborating with stakeholders nationwide to accelerate the use of clean hydrogen, reduce technology costs, and create regional networks to drive hydrogen applications while supporting economic growth.
These efforts are backed by historic investments, including $9.5 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and tax incentives for clean hydrogen production under the Inflation Reduction Act. The U.S. isn’t alone in this mission—over 25 national governments have released hydrogen roadmaps, with many more in development. Global partnerships, such as the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy and the Clean Energy Ministerial’s Hydrogen Initiative, are fostering international collaboration on hydrogen solutions.
As we celebrate National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, let's take this opportunity to learn more about clean hydrogen and its future potential. The road ahead presents both challenges and exciting opportunities, and we’re just getting started!
Let’s power the future together with hydrogen!
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