[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 208 (Tuesday, October 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64179-64185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25596]



[[Page 64179]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy


H2 Refuel H-Prize Final Guidelines

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of 
Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice of the H2 Refuel H-Prize Competition.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: As authorized in Section 654 of the Energy Independence and 
Security Act of 2007, the Department of Energy (DOE) is announcing the 
$1 million H2 Refuel H-Prize competition, allowing teams from across 
the United States to compete and develop systems that generate and 
dispense hydrogen from resources commonly available to residences 
(electricity or natural gas), for use in homes, community centers, 
businesses or similar locations, to supplement the current 
infrastructure roll-out and reduce barriers to using hydrogen fuel cell 
vehicles.

DATES: 
--Competition opens--October 29, 2014.
--Competition ends--October 31, 2016: Data will be analyzed to 
determine winner Award of $1 million prize, if the Panel of Judges 
determines that there is a winning entry.

    For more information regarding the dates relating to this 
competition, see, section III., Competition requirements and process, 
Key Dates, in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

ADDRESSES: The H-Prize Web site is http://hydrogenprize.org, where 
updates and announcements will be posted throughout the competition.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions may be directed to--

Technical information: Reginald Tyler at 720-356-1805 or by email at 
[email protected]
Prize contest: Emanuel Wagner, Contest Manager, Hydrogen Education 
Foundation, at 202-457-0868 x360 or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    Fuel cells powered by hydrogen from renewable or low-carbon 
resources can lead to substantial energy savings and reductions in 
imported petroleum and carbon emissions. Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles 
(FCEVs) are much more efficient than today's gasoline vehicles, and 
when fueled with hydrogen, produce only water vapor at the tailpipe. 
The hydrogen fuel can be generated from a range of domestic sources. 
While the commercial sale of FCEVs is rapidly approaching, 
infrastructure remains a major challenge, with only approximately 50 
fueling stations in the United States, only 10 of which are operating 
as public stations. The H-Prize was authorized under section 654 of the 
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-140). As 
efforts to build a hydrogen fueling station infrastructure are getting 
underway, the H2 Refuel H-Prize is intended to incentivize the 
development of small-scale systems for non-commercial fueling to 
supplement the larger-scale infrastructure development.
    The H2 Refuel H-Prize anticipates award of a $1 million prize to 
the top refueler system entry that can produce hydrogen using 
electricity and/or natural gas, energy sources commonly available to 
residential locations, and dispense the hydrogen to a vehicle, 
providing at least 1 kg per refueling. Systems considered would be at 
the home scale and able to generate and dispense 1-5 kg H2/
day for use at residences, or the medium scale, generating and 
dispensing 5-50 kg H2/day. Medium scale systems would serve 
a larger community with multiple users daily, such as a large apartment 
complex or retail centers to fuel small fleets of vehicles (e.g., light 
duty automobiles, forklifts or tractors).
    Interested parties can register and find more information, updates 
and pages where teams can discuss the prize at the H-Prize Web site: 
http://hydrogenprize.org. The Hydrogen Education Foundation (HEF) is 
currently administering the prize for the U.S. Department of Energy 
(DOE), and DOE will coordinate prize activities with HEF.
    Teams will have a year to design a system that generates and 
dispenses hydrogen fuel that meets the criteria and identify a location 
where it can be installed and used. Twelve months after the competition 
opens, teams will be required to complete registration and submit 
system designs and blue prints, plans for installation, and preliminary 
data to demonstrate that the system satisfies the minimum criteria (see 
Criteria section). Teams will also need to provide documented evidence 
of cooperation from the installation site. Of the teams that meet all 
of the minimum criteria, the top entries will be selected as finalists 
to enter the testing phase. The selected teams will then have seven 
months to install and begin operating their systems. The systems must 
be compatible with remote monitoring equipment to allow remote 
monitoring for the testing period; compatibility requirements will be 
posted on the H-Prize Web site. Starting 21 months after the 
competition opens, the finalist systems will be remotely monitored and 
tested, and approximately two months of data will be collected. At 
least one on-site visit will be performed to verify data and perform 
tests that cannot be done remotely. Teams must also provide requested 
information to a DOE designated entity for independent verification of 
the cost of the system and the cost of the generated hydrogen. The 
scoring criteria will be ranked and weighted.

                            Proposed Timeline
------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Current tentative date                      Activity
------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 2014........................  Draft Guidelines posted for public
                                     comment.
April 2014........................  Comment period closes.
October 2014......................  Competition opens.
                                    H-Prize Website opens, including an
                                     online system to facilitate teaming
                                     and partnerships.
                                    Teams design systems, collect data,
                                     identify installation location, and
                                     registers for the prize ahead of
                                     data submission deadline.
October 2015......................  Preliminary data submission
                                     deadline.
                                    Teams will submit data, provide
                                     designs and blueprints and
                                     information about installation
                                     site, to indicate that the system
                                     is capable of meeting the base
                                     criteria.
December 2015.....................  Finalist teams are announced--go to
                                     testing stage.
                                    Finalist Teams install systems and
                                     get them up and running.
                                    Before the testing period begins,
                                     remote monitoring equipment will be
                                     installed by the designated data
                                     analysis team.
July 2016.........................  System testing begins.

[[Page 64180]]

 
October 2016......................  Competition ends--data is analyzed
                                     to determine winner.
December 2016 (tentative).........  Anticipated winner announcement.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Prize Criteria and Testing

Finalist Selection Phase

    Twelve months after the competition opens, teams interested in 
competing must have completed registering for the competition and 
submit all required information. To be considered, an entry must meet 
the initial selection criteria defined below. Teams will be required to 
submit data that demonstrates the system's ability to meet the 
indicated criteria. The top teams to provide convincing evidence that 
the entry could satisfy the minimum criteria will be selected for 
testing. Specific instructions will be posted on the H-Prize Web site 
detailing the required information. In addition to the required 
technical criteria data, teams will submit system descriptions and 
preliminary designs and installation concepts which will be evaluated 
by an expert panel to determine if the entries are likely to meet 
reasonable usability, cost and safety criteria. Usability refers to the 
ability of the system to be installed and used at the intended 
locations (e.g., considering footprint and noise), and to be easily 
operated by the average user (e.g., with minimum training and time). 
Because a goal of the H-Prize is to advance commercial applications of 
hydrogen energy technologies, the potential of the systems to 
ultimately be commercialized will also be evaluated, and a description 
of a pathway to commercial production of the systems, including 
manufacturing, will be requested. To evaluate the potential safety of 
the system, certain information will be requested, including a safety 
plan and a hazard analysis; specific instructions will be available at 
the H-Prize Web site. A safety page on the H-Prize Web site will 
provide updated information on safety issues and requirements for the 
safety plan and hazard analysis. To be selected as a finalist, 
contestant designs, installation details and safety plans must be 
judged adequately safe by a panel of safety professionals.

                     Minimum/Maximum Criteria Table
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Criteria                     Home              Community
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minimum dispensing pressure.....                 350 bar.
                                 ---------------------------------------
Maximum dispensing time           10 hours..........  60 minutes.
 (standard fill).
Min. hydrogen dispensed per day.  1 kg..............  5 kg.
                                 ---------------------------------------
Hydrogen purity.................  Meets SAE J2719 (Hydrogen Fuel Quality
                                          for Fuel Cell Vehicles).
                                 ---------------------------------------
Fill method.....................    Compliant with relevant codes (for
                                       automobiles, SAE J2601 Fueling
                                      Protocols for Light Duty Gaseous
                                       Hydrogen Surface Vehicles) and
                                    ensures that delivered hydrogen does
                                        not exceed the pressure and
                                     temperature limits of the vehicle
                                               storage tank.
                                 ---------------------------------------
Safety..........................      Meets relevant safety codes and
                                    standards for installation in target
                                                 location.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finalist Competition

    The finalist teams will have seven months to install their systems 
at a location of their choosing before testing begins. Among other 
considerations, entries must meet the safety codes and standards in 
effect at the installation location appropriate to the system. Further, 
all required permits and approvals must be received prior to system 
operations.
    Each entry will be scored in six different technical and cost 
criteria:

--Dispensing pressure
--Dispensing time
--Number of standard fills per day
--Tested availability
--Total installed system cost
--Direct user cost per kg

The criteria and scoring ranges are listed in more detail below.
    Testing for the technical criteria will be performed remotely over 
a period of 2 to 3 months, with at least one on-site inspection to 
verify data and perform testing that cannot be done remotely. Summary 
level testing results will be published. The base criteria listed in 
Minimum/Maximum Criteria Table will be tested to ensure that all 
entries meet those requirements. A standard fill is defined as the 
delivery of 1 kg of hydrogen to a vehicle tank.
    The cost criteria will be evaluated by an independent auditing 
entity. Teams will be required to submit cost information, such as the 
bill of materials for the system installation and system operating 
costs during the testing period. Specific details on required 
information will be provided to finalist teams after selection.
    Entries will receive scores for the tested criteria as described 
below, with different multipliers for each of the criteria. When 
testing is complete, the data will be analyzed to determine scores. 
Once all results have been analyzed, judges will evaluate the results 
and determine the scores based on the published scoring criteria, and 
confirm entry eligibility based on the base criteria and eligibility 
requirements. After resolving any ties (see tie resolution process 
below), the eligible team with the highest score will be the winner.

Installation Site Criteria

    Any site in the 50 United States and the District of Columbia can 
be used for the installation of the refueler, as long as there is 
access for installing equipment for remote monitoring, at least one on-
site visit for in-depth testing, and at least one visit by the press 
and public.
    To meet testing requirements, the fueling system should be used at 
an average of at least 50% planned capacity per week (e.g., for a home 
system designed to dispense 1 kg/day, at least four 1-kg ``fills'' per 
week; for a community system designed to produce 20 kg/day, it should 
dispense at least 70

[[Page 64181]]

1-kg ``fills'' per week). If on-site use is below this level, simulated 
fills can be used for testing. Simulated fill protocols will be posted 
on the H-Prize Web site before testing begins.
    Entries must meet the safety codes and standards in effect at the 
installation location. Teams are encouraged to consider the relevant 
SAE, ASME and NFPA codes and standards.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Codes and standards to consider include but are not limited 
to SAE J2719, ASME B31-12, ASME B31-3, ASME BPV Code, NFPA 2 and 
NFPA 70. Depending on the system, some codes and standards may not 
apply.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prize Criteria

    The criteria were developed through discussion with experts in the 
field, including members of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory 
Committee, other DOE offices, and federal agencies, and from responses 
to a Request for Information (DE-FOA-0000907: RFI--Home Hydrogen 
Refueler H-Prize Topic, http://www1.eere.energy.gov/financing/solicitations_detail.html?sol_id=600) and public comments on the draft 
criteria (79 FR 15737).
    Each of the criteria is assigned a 1-5 point scale connected to 
different ranges. To be eligible, entries must receive at least the 
minimum score for each category. For some criteria, the ranges for home 
and community systems may be different. A score multiplying factor will 
be used to weight the different criteria.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Dispensing pressure
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Score                   Home                  Community
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1......................                 350 bar or higher.
2......................                 400 bar or higher.
3......................                 500 bar or higher.
4......................                 600 bar or higher.
5......................         700 bar or higher (ultimate goal).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Dispensing Pressure refers to the pressure of the hydrogen 
dispensed to the vehicle. Intermediate pressures are listed to 
incentivize advancements towards low-cost systems that can meet the 
ultimate target of 700 bar.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Dispensing time
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Score                   Home                    Community
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.................  10 hours/kg or less......  60 minutes/kg or less.
2.................  8 hours/kg or less.......  30 minutes/kg or less.
3.................  5 hours/kg or less.......  15 minutes/kg or less.
4.................  2 hours/kg or less.......  10 minutes/kg or less.
5.................  30 minutes/g or less.....  3 minutes/kg or less.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Dispensing time is the time required to dispense a standard fill of 
hydrogen to a vehicle, including time required to connect the system to 
the vehicle and begin the hydrogen flow. Home systems may have longer 
fueling times, up to overnight, while multi-user system are expected to 
have shorter fueling times.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Number of standard fills per day
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Score                   Home                    Community
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.................  1 or more................  5 or more.
2.................  2 or more................  10 or more.
3.................  3 or more................  20 or more.
4.................  4 or more................  40 or more.
5.................  5 or more................  50 or more.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The standard fills per day will be based on the highest number of 
actual or simulated fills completed in a 24 hour period.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Tested availability
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Score                   Home                    Community
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.................                     80% or higher.
2.................                     85% or higher.
3.................                     90% or higher.
4.................                     95% or higher.
5.................                     98% or higher.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Availability will be tested over a period of two to three months, 
during which time system usage will need to be at least 50% of the 
planned capacity per week. Any time spent on repairs or non-routine 
maintenance during the testing period will count as non-available, even 
if compensated for (e.g., repairs done during scheduled down-time, or 
using stored hydrogen).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Total installed system cost (capital + installation)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Score                   Home                    Community
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.................  $25k/kg/day or less......  $15k/kg/day or less.
2.................  $20k/kg/day or less......  $12.5k/kg/day or less.
3.................  $15k/kg/day or less......  $10k/kg/day or less.
4.................  $10k/kg/day or less......  $7.5k/kg/day or less.
5.................  $5k/kg/day or less.......  $5k/kg/day or less.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Installed System Costs will be based on the actual cost for 
the system equipment (including balance of plant to the nozzle 
interface) as well as the actual installation costs. The total cost for 
scoring will be based on the amount of hydrogen dispensed per day--for 
example, a home system designed and demonstrated to dispense 1 kg/day 
with a system installed cost of $24,000 would score 1 point, while a 
system designed to dispense 2 kg/day at the same cost would receive a 
score of 3. Teams will be expected to provide information such as the 
bill of materials for all components. Details of the specific 
information requested will be provided to the teams selected for 
testing. If the system proposed provides heat and/or power in addition 
to hydrogen for refueling, the cost of the entire system will be 
considered when scoring this criterion. Integrated systems that provide 
heat and/or power in addition to hydrogen for refueling will be awarded 
bonus points (see bonus points below).

[[Page 64182]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Direct user cost per kg
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Score                   Home                    Community
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.................                      $20 or less.
2.................                      $17 or less.
3.................                      $14 or less.
4.................                      $11 or less.
5.................                       $8 or less.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Direct user cost per kg will be based on feedstock inputs and 
actual operations and maintenance costs during the testing period, 
divided by the amount of hydrogen that is produced and used. The direct 
user cost per kg excludes the capital and installation costs, which are 
included in the total installed system cost category. Feedstock cost 
inputs will be based on actual usage, using a single price for all 
entries for each input to eliminate regional variation, based on the 
EIA 2014 projections for average price to all users: $0.098/kWh for 
electricity and $6.60/million BTU for natural gas. All generated and 
used hydrogen is counted in determining the $/kg--for example, a system 
that generates 10 kg/day, where 4 kg is used for fuel vehicles and 5 is 
used in a fuel cell to produce power would divide the daily user costs 
by 9.

Scoring

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Score
                     Criteria category                        multiplier
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dispensing pressure........................................            3
Dispensing time............................................            1
Standard fills per day.....................................            1
Tested Availability........................................            2
System installation cost...................................            2
Direct user cost per kg....................................            1
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A bonus score of up to 3 points will be awarded for integrated 
systems in order to offset the additional costs associated with adding 
heat and/or power, based on how much heat or power is provided.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Bonus points
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Points                       Heat or power supplied
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................  Supply at least 35 gallons of hot
                                   water per day.
1...............................  Supply at least 25,000 BTU/hr of space
                                   heating.
1...............................  Supply at least 10 kWh electricity per
                                   day.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scoring Example

    Example A: Makes all the lowest scores

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Category      Score        Total
             Criteria category                          Result                score      multiplier     scores
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dispensing pressure.......................  360 bar......................            1            3            3
Dispensing time...........................  8 hours......................            1            1            1
Standard fills per day....................  1............................            1            1            1
Tested Availability.......................  81%..........................            1            2            2
System installation cost..................  $23k/kg......................            1            2            2
Direct user cost per kg...................  $19/kg.......................            1            1            1
Bonus categories..........................  None.........................            0            0            0
                                           ---------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.................................  .............................  ...........  ...........           10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Example B: Mixture of scoring levels

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Category      Score        Total
             Criteria category                          Result                score      multiplier     scores
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dispensing pressure.......................  475 bar......................            2            3            6
Dispensing time...........................  3 hours......................            3            1            3
Standard fills per day....................  3............................            3            1            3
Tested Availability.......................  88%..........................            2            2            4
System installation cost..................  $18k/kg......................            2            2            4
Direct user cost per kg...................  $11/kg.......................            4            1            4
Bonus categories..........................  Supplies hot water...........            1  ...........            1
                                           ---------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.................................  .............................  ...........  ...........           25
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Judging and Testing

    A panel of independent judges will be assembled from experts in 
relevant fields, selected by DOE in consultation with HEF. Judges may 
be selected from organizations such as the Hydrogen Safety Panel, the 
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Technical Advisory Committee, National Labs, 
and relevant federal agencies. An independent testing entity will be 
selected to perform remote and on-site technical data collection, and 
an independent auditing oversight entity will collect and analyze the 
cost data.

Tie Resolution Process

    If the results for any of the technical criteria for different 
entries differ by less than the measurement error range, then those 
systems will be considered tied for that category and given the higher 
of the two scores (for example, if the pressure measurement error range 
is 5%, and Entry A has a dispensing pressure of 499 bar and Entry B has 
a pressure of 500 bar, both will be given 3 points for the category).
    If the top entries' total scores are tied, the entry with the 
highest measured pressure will win; if the pressure measurements are 
within the measurement error, the entry with the highest measured 
availability will be selected as the winner. Otherwise, the entry with 
the highest score will win.

III. Competition Requirements and Process

Eligibility

    This H-Prize Competition is open to contestants, defined as 
individuals, entities, or teams that meet the following requirements:
    1. Comply with all Registration and H-Prize Competition Rules and 
Requirements as listed in this document and in any updates posted on 
the H-Prize Web site and/or the Federal Register;
    2. In the case of an entity: Be organized or incorporated in the 
United States, and maintain for the duration of the H-Prize Competition 
a primary place of business in the United States;

[[Page 64183]]

    3. In the case of all individuals (whether participating singly or 
as part of an entity or team): be a citizen of, or an alien lawfully 
admitted for permanent residence into, the United States as of the date 
of Registration in the H-Prize Competition and maintain that status for 
the duration of the H-Prize Competition;
    4. A team may consist of two or more individuals, entities, or any 
combination of both. All team members listed on the contestant roster 
must meet the requirements of individuals or entities.
    5. Provide the following documentation:
    a. In the case of U.S. Citizens: Provide proof of U.S. Citizenship 
with Registration, as follows:
    i. Notarized copy of U.S. Passport, or
    ii. Notarized copies of both a current state-issued photo ID issued 
from one of the 50 States or a U.S. Territory and a birth certificate;
    b. In the case of aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence 
in the United States: Provide notarized copy of Permanent Resident Card 
(Form 1-551)(green card) with Registration;
    c. In the case of entities: Provide a copy of the entity formation 
documentation (e.g. Articles of Incorporation) showing the place of 
formation, as well as a self-certification of the primary place of 
business;
    6. The contestant, or any member of a contestant, shall not be a 
Federal entity, a Federal employee acting within the scope of his or 
her employment, or an employee of a National Laboratory acting within 
the scope of his or her employment;
    7. Sign a waiver of claims against the Federal Government and the 
HEF. See 42 U.S.C. 16396(f)(5)(A);
    8. Obtain liability insurance, or satisfactorily demonstrate 
financial responsibility, during the period of the H-Prize Competition. 
See 42 U.S.C. 16396(f)(5)(B)(i);
    9. Name the Federal Government as an additional insured under the 
registered participants' insurance policy and agree to indemnify the 
Federal Government against third party claims. See 42 U.S.C. 
16396(f)(5)(B)(ii);
    10. Teams and Entities:
    a. Each team or entity will designate a team leader as the sole 
point of contact with H-Prize Competition officials.
    b. Team or entity members will be identified at the time of 
Registration on the contestant roster. Members participating on 
multiple teams will be required to disclose participation to each team.
    c. Changes to contestant rosters will be allowed up to 72 hours 
prior to the award presentation, provided citizenship and immigration 
requirements are met.

Registration Process

    After announcement in the Federal Register, registration and all 
required eligibility documentation must be completed through the Web 
site http://hydrogenprize.org no later than one week before the initial 
data submission deadline. Early registration is encouraged.

H-Prize Competition Schedule

    Once registered, teams will receive all notices and rules updates, 
including answers to questions asked by the contestants. The public Web 
site, http://hydrogenprize.org, will also post this same information, 
including publicity about various teams and sponsors. Contestants are 
encouraged to utilize the Web site as a means of highlighting any 
information they would like to convey to the public or potential 
sponsors. There are no entry fees.
    On October 29, 2015, contestants will be required to submit initial 
data (including information on how the data was gathered and measured) 
and requested financial information for evaluation by a designated 
panel of judges. Instructions for the initial data submission will be 
posted on the Web site and sent electronically to the designated 
contact person for each contestant.
    Testing and evaluations are planned to be completed in October 
2016. The winner will be determined after all testing data has been 
analyzed to determine scoring and any ties resolved as described above. 
DOE plans select and announce a winner within three months after the 
close of the competition.

Intellectual Property

    Intellectual property rights developed by the contestant for H-
Prize technology are set forth in 42 U.S.C. 16396(f)(4). No parties 
managing the contest, including the U.S. Government, their testing 
laboratories, judges or H-Prize administrators will claim rights to the 
intellectual property derived by a registered contestant as a 
consequence of, or in direct relation to, their participation in this 
H-Prize Competition. The Government and the contestant may negotiate a 
license for the Government to use the intellectual property developed 
by the contestant.

Cancellation and Team Disqualification

    A contestant may be disqualified for the following reasons:
     At the request of the registered individual or team 
leader;
     Failure to meet or maintain eligibility requirements (note 
that at the time of the prize award, if it is determined that a 
contestant has not met or maintained all eligibility requirements, they 
shall be disqualified without regard to H-Prize Competition 
performance);
     Failure to submit required documents or materials on time;
     Fraudulent acts, statements or misrepresentations 
involving any H-Prize participation or documentation; or,
     Violation of any federal, state or local law or 
regulation.

DOE reserves the right to cancel this prize program at any time prior 
to the completion of system testing.

Liability and Competition Costs

    The Department of Energy, H-Prize, the Hydrogen Education 
Foundation and any sponsoring or supporting organization assume no 
liability or responsibility for accidents or injury related to the 
Prize.
    The entrants are responsible for costs associated with 
participating in the competition including but not limited to 
designing, installing and operating their systems.

Key Dates

--October 29, 2014: Competition opens
--October 29, 2015: Preliminary data submission date
--July, 2016: Finalist system testing begins
--October 31, 2016: Competition ends, data will be analyzed to 
determine winner Award of $1 million prize, if the Panel of Judges 
determines that there is a winning entry
--December, 2016: Anticipated award of $1 million prize, if the Panel 
of Judges determines that there is a winning entry.

IV. Draft Guideline Public Comments and Responses

    Draft guidelines for the H2 Refuel competition were posted online 
March 21, 2014, as announced in the Federal Register at 79 FR 15737. 
Responses were submitted from 14 sources, representing industry, 
consultants, safety groups, competition experts and individuals, and 
some responses covered multiple topics.

Comments on Criteria

    There were four comments that addressed the contest scoring 
criteria and their targets. One stated the opinion that economy of 
scale is the only way to overcome fueling costs and suggested

[[Page 64184]]

raising the minimum required fueling capacity. In response, DOE notes 
that the criteria for fueling capacity in the draft guidelines for the 
small, ``Home'' category, 1-5 kg H2/day and for the medium 
``Community'' category, 5-50 kg H2/day were identified with 
several goals and issues in mind. The requirements for the minimum 
daily amount of hydrogen dispensed were designed to fit with the 
intended applications in the immediate near-term, which is either home 
or small-scale, non-commercial multi-use sites such as a community. 
These applications would serve a small number of vehicles, for which 
DOE determined the minimum capacity for hydrogen dispensed. The minimum 
is only a lower limit, though, and entries would be allowed to design 
systems capable of higher fueling capacities, within the range of the 
``Home'' and ``Community'' category definitions. Therefore, the minimum 
requirement for hydrogen dispensed daily will not be changed.
    A second response noted that capital cost should be expressed in 
terms of capacity, and stated that there was confusion in having a 
separate scoring of refuels per day. In response, DOE changed the text 
and tables to clarify that the capital cost is in units of ``$/kg 
hydrogen dispensed per day.'' The refuels per day criteria allows 
testing that the entire system can actually produce and deliver the 
targeted amount of hydrogen per day. While the upper limit of this 
would be determined by the fueling time, which is a separate criteria, 
it would also be affected by other issues. For example, a system may be 
able to rapidly fuel a vehicle in 10 minutes, but not be able to 
produce more than 5 kg/day; this also tests that the system can handle 
repeated fuelings in a day.
    Another response noted that refueling time was heavily weighted in 
the draft scoring criteria, given that two categories relate to it, one 
with a 2 x score multiplier. The commenter suggested that this went 
against the concept of a home refueler, where the idea is to refuel 
overnight to a full tank, and takes emphasis away from more important 
issues like direct user costs. DOE notes that the comment reflects some 
confusion over the refueling time criteria--the refueling time is for a 
single kg of hydrogen; and fill a car tank overnight would likely 
require more than one kg of hydrogen, so such a system would actually 
score in the mid- to high-range under the draft guidelines. In response 
to the comment, the difference between the refueling time and 
refuelings per day criteria was clarified in the final guidelines, and 
the weight for the dispensing time score was reduced.
    One response stated that the home refueler systems should be at 700 
bar, which has been adopted as the standard onboard storage pressure by 
car manufacturers. DOE notes that the dispensing pressure criteria were 
given considerable thought, and some responses to an earlier Request 
for Information addressed the selection of a 700 bar or 350 bar system. 
The ultimate target is a 700 bar system, but given the current state of 
the technology in combination with the other criteria, limiting the 
dispensing pressure to 700 bar could severely restrict potential 
entrants. The scoring for dispensing pressure is designed to 
incentivize the design of systems that improve upon the 350 bar 
dispensing pressure, and the dispensing pressure requirements will not 
be changed. While a 350 bar system cannot fully fill a 700 bar tank, it 
can still partially fuel a tank, providing at least enough hydrogen for 
an average day's commute. The intent of the competition is to 
supplement the fueling infrastructure, not replace it.

Comments on System and Entrant Eligibility

    Four comments included questions about whether certain systems 
would be qualified as entries for the competition. One asked about 
systems that produce but do not dispense hydrogen. The DOE notes that 
because the goal of the competition is to develop onsite refueling 
systems, the guidelines require systems to both produce and dispense 
hydrogen onsite. Another asked about systems that have already been 
built and installed. DOE notes that as the competition is intended to 
stimulate improvements over the currently available technology, and 
that the targets have been set, based on available information, such 
that no current system meets all criteria simultaneously. Nothing in 
the guidelines, however, excludes such a system. All requirements would 
still apply to existing systems, including providing the relevant 
financial information such as bill of materials. A third comment 
provided some information about a hydrogen production system, and asked 
if configurations other than electrolysis or steam reforming of natural 
gas would be accepted. The final competition guidelines do not specify 
the technology for hydrogen production and are not limited to the use 
of electrolysis or steam methane reforming. However, any system must 
meet the requirements laid out in the guidelines, including that the 
feedstocks and major consumables used be those commonly delivered to 
residences (electricity, natural gas), and dispense the hydrogen in 
addition to generating the fuel. The fourth comment asked if a system 
that fuels vehicles with hydrogen internal combustion engines, rather 
than fuel cells, would be allowed. DOE notes that the guidelines do not 
specify the type of vehicle used, however, the testing stage must use a 
tank that is compatible with the minimum system criteria (e.g., can 
receive at least 1 kg of hydrogen in a fueling, is compatible with 
hydrogen delivered at 350 bar). It is expected that questions about 
whether certain systems would qualify will continue to be relevant, and 
while the guidelines were not altered, general questions will be 
addressed in the FAQ page of the H-Prize Web site.
    Two comments requested clarification of who is eligible to compete. 
One asked if educational institutions would be allowed to be part of a 
team, and another noted that the eligibility criteria was unclear in 
some sections, particularly with reference to teams. In response, DOE 
has refined and modified the eligibility criteria to clarify many of 
the issues that were identified in comments, with more consistent use 
of the terms ``entity,'' ``team,'' and ``participant.'' The reference 
to ``private entity'' was changed to ``entity.'' An educational 
institution would be considered an entity, and would be eligible if it 
met the other eligibly requirements (e.g., organized or incorporated in 
the United States). DOE expects that questions of eligibility will 
continue to be common. While some of the questions may need to be 
addressed on a case-by-case basis, more common questions will be 
addressed on the FAQ page of the H-Prize Web site.

Information on Hydrogen Production Systems

    Three responses provided information on hydrogen production 
systems, without commenting directly on the draft guidelines. DOE used 
the information provided about relevant systems to further evaluate the 
criteria to ensure that they were achievable but represent an 
improvement over the current state of the technology. The responses 
suggested that the criteria identified were, in fact, achievable but 
not yet attained.

Competition Plans

    Several responses addressed the plans for the competition. One 
noted that the testing period was not well described and should reflect 
real-world conditions, specifically fueling into

[[Page 64185]]

tanks that are not empty. DOE notes that as stated in the guidelines, 
further details of the testing protocol will be provided to contestants 
by the prize administrator. DOE had considered more complicated testing 
procedures, however, given the potential diversity of system designs 
(for example, they may have different dispensing pressures), and the 
added cost and time associated with implementing more complicated 
protocols and verifying that they are performed, lead to the selection 
of the current protocols. Another response commented on the general 
plans, suggesting that to engage a robust set of entries, the 
eligibility requirements for insurance and waivers be waived until 
after the selection of finalists. DOE notes that insurance and 
liability waivers are required by the Energy Independence and Security 
Act of 2007, Public Law 110-140 (42 U.S.C. 16396(f)), and those 
requirements for registration will remain in the guidelines. The same 
response also recommended the use of modern engagement methods, such as 
involvement with social media in addition to the Web site. Both DOE and 
HEF have plans to ensure that the competition is widely advertised, 
including the use of social media and other engagement activities.
    One comment asked when a forum to help teams find partners would be 
available. DOE notes that the H-Prize Web site will provide 
opportunities for those interested in joining a team to reach others. 
For example, interested parties will be able to submit information to 
HEF, which will post the lists of those with interest in teaming, with 
no implied endorsements or guarantees, on the Web site or in 
newsletters. Though an online forum was initially considered and noted 
in the draft guidelines, other methods of communication have since been 
determined to be more effective and the guideline language was changed 
accordingly.
    One response asked if funding is available to design and/or build 
the entries. DOE notes that, as stated in both the draft and final 
guidelines, ``The entrants are responsible for costs associated with 
participating in the competition including but not limited to 
designing, installing and operating their systems.'' The H-Prize is a 
competition, and no up-front funding is provided through the 
competition itself. It is expected that this will be a common question, 
and will be addressed in an FAQ page on the H-Prize Web site.
    One response asked about when final guidelines would be posted. DOE 
notes that the final guidelines are posted in this Federal Register 
notice. Further details can be found in this notice and on the H-Prize 
Web site.
    Three responses suggested changes to the competition that are not 
compatible with the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, 
Public Law 110-140 (42 U.S.C. 16396(f)). One suggested allowing 
synthetic methane as an alternative to the hydrogen fueling; however, 
DOE notes that the H-Prize statutory authority states that the prize is 
intended to advance the research, development, demonstration, and 
commercial application of hydrogen energy technologies. Fueling with 
methane would not qualify as a hydrogen energy technology, and 
therefore the guidelines will not be changed to include methane or 
other fuels besides hydrogen. Two other responses suggested having 
separate awards for different categories, either the ``home'' or 
``community'' or a set of three categories based on scale and 
application. The combination of single-home and community scale systems 
provides entrants with the flexibility to match their solution to the 
general topic of small-scale, non-commercial fueling while the parallel 
target ranges for certain criteria allows the two scales (single user 
vs. multiple user) to be more evenly compared based on their expected 
application.

Safety

    One comment was also submitted on issues related to safety, codes 
and standards. In response, DOE engaged in discussions with safety 
experts, including the respondents. The comments and discussions lead 
to several modifications of the competition guidelines and plans. These 
include the addition of a safety plan and hazard analysis to the 
documents required at the preliminary design and data deadline, which 
will be judged by a panel of safety professionals; plans for a safety 
information page that will be on the H-Prize Web site; and plans to 
hold a webinar on safety, codes and standards that will be open to all 
interested parties and posted on the H-Prize Web site. In addition to 
the eligibly requirement included in both the draft and final 
guidelines that participants would be disqualified for any ``violation 
of any federal, state or local law or regulation'' which includes 
safety codes and standards, the final guidelines require that ``entries 
must meet the safety codes and standards in effect at the installation 
location appropriate to the system.'' Because the relevant safety codes 
and standards will depend on both the system design and the 
installation location, a single, comprehensive list of required 
standards cannot be provided. Some suggestions by respondents were more 
appropriate for projects where DOE was providing direct funding for a 
contract or financial assistance award. Unlike traditional funding 
scenarios, the H-Prize competition does not create a direct contractual 
relationship with potential H-Prize contestants.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 16, 2014.
Sunita Satyapal,
Fuel Cell Technology Office Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-25596 Filed 10-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P