The Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) at the University of California, Riverside, has been awarded $1 million by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to address critical barriers in the permitting process for hydrogen projects. The project, led by CE-CERT in partnership with Sandia National Laboratories, GHD, and Hydrogen Technologies, LLC, will focus on identifying and mitigating technological and procedural challenges, with a special emphasis on safety, risk analysis, and community engagement.
The project will be managed by the US DOE’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) and is part of a nearly $62 million funding package. The funding will support 20 projects across 15 states aimed at accelerating the research, development, demonstration, and deployment of next-generation clean hydrogen technologies. Announcing the grants, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm stated, “Today’s announcement builds on the historic clean hydrogen investments made possible by the Investing in America agenda and will help deliver new economic opportunities across the nation while also reinforcing America’s global leadership in clean energy technologies for generations to come.”
This initiative aims to provide comprehensive safety and risk assessments for specific hydrogen use cases, ensuring that hydrogen technologies can be safely and effectively integrated into existing and planned projects and facilities. The project prioritizes working with local representatives from disadvantaged communities early in the process. By identifying potential concerns and crafting strategies to address them, the initiative aims to build trust and ensure the successful implementation of hydrogen technologies in diverse communities.
“Hydrogen holds great promise as a clean energy source, but its deployment often faces significant hurdles,” said Dr. Arun Raju, Principal Investigator for the project. “This effort is not just about overcoming technical and regulatory barriers—it’s about ensuring the process is inclusive. By involving all communities, particularly those that have been historically underserved, we can ensure the benefits of clean energy are shared equitably.”
CE-CERT’s work under this grant will directly address some of the most pressing permitting and safety challenges facing hydrogen projects. By streamlining the adoption of hydrogen technologies and enhancing community engagement, the project will support a scalable, sustainable, and inclusive clean energy transition.