San Francisco was selected by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) to be the first Climate Action Champion to pursue hydrogen and fuel cell technologies for local transportation. Virginia-based Strategic Analysis Inc will also conduct related analysis.

DOE is providing $4.75 million in funding for both efforts, which will develop education and outreach programmes to increase the deployment of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and hydrogen fueling infrastructure, as well as provide detailed cost analyses for hydrogen fuel cell systems, hydrogen storage, and hydrogen production and delivery technologies.

The announcement was made by Deputy Assistant Energy Secretary Reuben Sarkar, during a meeting in Berkeley, California of the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy, a government partnership of 17 countries and the European Commission that coordinates activities in hydrogen and fuel cells.

The funding will allow the San Francisco Department of the Environment to conduct comprehensive training and educational activities for hydrogen and fuel cell stakeholders throughout the Bay Area.

A key goal of this project is to harmonise local regulations and building codes to ease the siting and construction of hydrogen fueling stations, while reducing the cost and complexity of FCEVs for the community through regional education and outreach.

Strategic Analysis Inc will analyse the cost competitiveness of a range of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, including those used in hydrogen infrastructure relevant to San Francisco and other projects.

These cost analyses and evaluations are critical components to move the hydrogen and fuel cell industry from technology development towards widespread commercial deployment.

Project partners include the San Francisco Clean Cities Coalition, California Fuel Cell Partnership, Business Council on Climate Change, and the Transportation Sustainability Research Center at the University of California, Berkeley.