[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38486-38487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12590]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


U.S. Hydrogen Industry Roundtable

AGENCY: International Trade Administration.

ACTION: Notice of a roundtable discussion on challenges and 
opportunities for strengthening the supply chain and export 
competitiveness of the U.S. hydrogen industry.

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SUMMARY: Through this notice, the International Trade Administration 
(ITA) of the Department of Commerce announces a roundtable discussion 
with U.S. industry representatives and U.S. government officials. ITA 
invites applications from a wide array of industry representatives to 
participate in the roundtable, ranging from existing manufacturers of 
goods and providers of services to prospective new market entrants. 
Participants will have products that are or will be produced in the 
United States along the hydrogen value chain.

DATES: 
    Event: The roundtable will be held in a virtual format on June 29, 
2023 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., eastern daylight time.
    Event Registration: ITA will evaluate registrations based on the 
submitted information (see below) and inform applicants of selection 
decisions, which will be made on a rolling basis until 25 participants 
have been selected.

ADDRESSES: Event: The roundtable will be held via WebEx and the link 
for the meeting will be provided to registered participants.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maureen Clapper, Senior Advisor, ITA, 
at or Charles Saad, Clean Technology Trade Specialist, at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The International Renewable Energy Agency 
(IRENA) estimates that, as of 2021, only 1% of global hydrogen output 
was produced with low greenhouse gas emission methods. To meet the most 
ambitious climate goals, including those set forth in Executive Order 
14008 (``Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad,'' January 27, 
2021), the use of renewable and low carbon hydrogen would need to scale 
dramatically. The United States holds several unique advantages that 
give it the potential to become a powerhouse in the global hydrogen 
industry, with domestic hydrogen deployment already expected to grow 
substantially. Despite this strong domestic capacity for hydrogen 
production, U.S. firms may face export competitive challenges and 
market access issues. The Hydrogen Council's October 2022 report, 
Global Hydrogen Flows, draws attention to the need for ``development of 
mutually recognized robust and tradeable certification schemes for 
hydrogen.''
    ITA seeks individual company input and views at the June 29, 2023 
roundtable regarding the hydrogen industry value chain, including on 
the following topics:
     The current state of upstream manufacturing for hydrogen 
in the United States, including electrolyzers, fuel cells, compressors, 
storage tanks, and other related and enabling equipment;
     Supply chain constraints, including with respect to 
platinum group metals or interconnection with the electrical grid;
     The potential contribution of U.S. hydrogen producers 
towards the Biden Administration's overarching clean energy goals as 
set out in Executive Order 14008 ``Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home 
and Abroad'' (January 27, 2021);
     Challenges facing the hydrogen industry, including those 
that may inhibit the export competitiveness of products derived by the 
U.S. hydrogen industry value chain;
     How to help ensure that the build out of the hydrogen 
economy, with an emphasis on hydrogen production, proceeds apace while 
mitigating carbon emissions; and
     Company expectations on industry readiness for exports, 
including any potential challenges or obstacles.
    The event is closed to press and public. Industry participation is 
limited to 25 qualifying company representatives. Officials from the 
Department of Energy, Department of State, and other relevant agencies 
will also be invited to participate in the discussion.

Selection

    Company representatives interested in applying to attend the 
roundtable should submit the below information to 
[email protected] by no later than June 23, 2023. ITA will 
evaluate applications based on the submitted information (and based on 
the criteria below) on a rolling basis until 25 participants have been 
selected and inform applicants of selection decisions.
    Participants should be at a sufficiently senior level to be 
knowledgeable about their company's capabilities, interests, growth 
objectives, and challenges with respect to production of clean hydrogen 
within the U.S. hydrogen value chain. Each selected participant may 
invite one additional person from their company as a non-participating 
observer. This will be administered by reaching out before the 
roundtable using provided contact information to request participants 
submit information about their observer.
    Applicants should include the following information in their 
request to attend the roundtable:
     Name of proposed attendee and short bio;

[[Page 38487]]

     Name of company and brief company description; and
     A statement self-certifying the following criteria:
    1. The company is not majority owned by a foreign government entity 
(or entities).
    2. The company is an existing manufacturer, provider of services, 
or prospective market entrant with products or services that are or 
will be produced in the United States.
    3. The representative will be able to attend the entire roundtable.
    Selection will be based on the following criteria:
     Suitability of company's products and service offerings in 
the existing hydrogen industry value chain;
     Suitability of the company's experience in manufacturing 
in the United States;
     Suitability, based on the representative's position and 
biography, to be able to meaningfully engage in the conversation; and
     Ability of the company to contribute to the roundtable's 
purpose of seeking individual input and views on the United States 
hydrogen industry value chain.
    Consideration will also be given to whether an applicant company 
may have conflicting interests or whether its selection could hinder 
the overall effectiveness of the roundtable.

    Dated: June 7, 2023.
Man K. Cho,
Deputy Director, Office of Energy and Environmental Industries.
[FR Doc. 2023-12590 Filed 6-12-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P