Ready to help build our clean energy future with a career in hydrogen and fuel cells? The U.S. Department of Energy's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) is dedicated to enabling clean energy pathways across multiple applications and sectors of our economy.
HFTO partners with the national laboratories, industry, and academia to research, develop, demonstrate, and deploy technologies for the entire life cycle of clean hydrogen—including its production, storage, delivery, and use. And these efforts are integrated with a portfolio of activities to overcome non-technical barriers to the large-scale use of clean hydrogen.
Our success will help contribute to a broad range of benefits for the environment, for our nation's energy security, and for our domestic economy—including reduced greenhouse gas emissions, expanded use of renewable power (through use of hydrogen for energy storage and transmission), highly efficient energy conversion, fuel flexibility (use of diverse, domestic fuels, including clean and renewable fuels), reduced air pollution, and highly reliable grid support.
Since its inception, HFTO has transformed the state of the art by:
- Reducing the cost of clean hydrogen—including 80% reduction in the cost of electrolyzers
- Lowering the costs of hydrogen storage
- Improving the durability and lowering cost of fuel cells
- Spurring dramatic transformations of early markets for hydrogen fuel cells, such as forklifts and backup power.
If you are passionate about developing innovative solutions to address the most pressing challenges of the climate crisis, apply to join our team!
Available Jobs
Additional Opportunities
There are many other ways to get involved too. There are a number of internships, fellowships, and graduate and postdoctoral opportunities available through the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). While these are not defined or advertised as hydrogen-specific positions, fellows accepted into these programs may be able to pursue their fellowship opportunity with HFTO, depending on skills and interest.
Stay up to date with EERE opportunities by subscribing to the EERE Career Opportunities email list.
Learn About the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell News
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Momentum for clean hydrogen continued to build in 2024 across the United States and globally, and DOE activities continue to drive down costs, ramp up scale, and improve the performance of key technologies.
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The new version includes analysis of key changes in the clean hydrogen market since the release of the first report in 2023.
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The loan guarantee follows on a conditional commitment issued earlier this year.
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The updated 45VH2-GREET model includes new feedstocks, technologies, and assumptions in alignment with final rules.
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Funding includes two large projects with tens of millions of dollars for hydrogen fueling.
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The announcement includes multiple projects funded collaboratively across three DOE offices, including the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, to develop transformational energy technologies across America's most critical industrial subsectors.
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Guiding Universal Indicators in Developing Ecosystems for Hydrogen (GUIDE-H2) is a novel prize initiative to bolster clean hydrogen projects and minimize delays and cancellations by improving processes and outcomes. -
DOE opened new funding to small businesses for innovative clean energy technologies, including hydrogen and fuel cell R&D, as part of its Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs
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The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office is looking for a diverse pool of subject matter experts to review federal funding applications for clean hydrogen programs, and to review the merit of ongoing projects.
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Clean hydrogen is featured in innovation action plans for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and the maritime, rail, and aviation sectors.
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