New York this week announced two efforts to help boost hydrogen as a means of reaching its emission-reduction goals.

The New York Power Authority will allocate an additional 50 MW of low-cost hydropower to fuel cell manufacturer Plug Power to boost production of green hydrogen at a facility it is building in western New York.

Meanwhile the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority will administer a $10 million solicitation for clean hydrogen research, development and demonstration projects in hard-to-electrify sectors.

Both initiatives are part of the larger effort to slash emissions of greenhouse gases in New York. Hydrogen’s role in the drive to decarbonize is still being defined, as its potential as an economical and environmentally friendly fuel is still being developed.

Plug Power’s award was announced Thursday. The company is based just north of the state capital but has been expanding geographically in recent years as its market and sales have grown.

It began production earlier this year at a new factory south of the capital and is building a hydrogen generation facility near NYPA’s Niagara Power Project, which will supply the electricity announced Thursday. After starting construction of the western New York facility, the company expanded the plans, boosting the designed maximum output from 45 to 74 tons of liquid hydrogen per day.

NYPA sells inexpensive power to chosen businesses as a development tool; Plug receives 272 MW in total at its three existing in-state facilities. The state-owned utility’s board of trustees also authorized it to procure 62 MW of high-load-factor power for Plug on the energy market.

NYSERDA’s R&D solicitation announced Wednesday complements New York’s effort with six other states to form the Northeast Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub.

As its name implies, that is a broad regional effort. The solicitation is more closely focused on problematic New York applications.

“In partnership with the state’s leading innovators and problem-solvers, we are taking bold action to transition even the hardest-to-electrify sectors, helping secure a healthy and sustainable future for all New Yorkers,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a news release.

Proposals are sought in four areas:

• hydrogen applications to decarbonize industrial process heat;
• clean hydrogen production and integration with renewable energy such as solar and offshore wind;
• mitigation of nitrogen oxides in hydrogen combustion; and
• hydrogen storage technologies, including bulk storage and storage in limited footprint areas.

Applicants for state funding must be based in New York and must also be actively seeking federal funding for their projects. Any state award will be contingent upon the project also being approved for federal funding.

NYSERDA will host a webinar June 7 on the details and requirements. The application deadline is June 28.