New Delhi: The 41st Steering Committee Meeting of the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE) kicked off in New Delhi, India, on March 18, 2024, to continue until March 22, 2024. The first day of the five-day conference began with IPHE Academic Outreach at IIT Delhi, where attendees discussed the future of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
The inaugural session saw Professor Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor, Government of India, talk about the importance of collaboration to improve the economic viability and environmental sustainability of hydrogen technology. He placed significance on skill development and research in the sector, and cited various efforts taken by ministries of the Indian Government to adopt green hydrogen.
Sudeep Jain, Additional Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, discussed the challenges that come with climate change, suggesting collaboration between academia and research institutes to drive energy transition. He recommended shifting from grey to green hydrogen.
Professor Naresh Bhatnagar, Dean (R&D) at IIT Delhi, discussed the institute’s two-decade involvement in hydrogen-powered vehicle research and highlighted ongoing R&D efforts in high-pressure hydrogen storage.
Noe Van Hulst, Vice-Chairperson of IPHE encouraged education, research, and innovation to advance clean hydrogen technologies. Ajay Yadav, Joint Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, discussed the importance of green hydrogen as a fuel alternative in the future.
The first panel, titled “Empowering Expertise: Cultivating Skill Development in the Clean / Green Hydrogen Arena,” focused on skill development in the green hydrogen sector, calling for specialised training and safety standards for advancement.
The second panel, titled “Unveiling the Future: Clean / Green Hydrogen Technologies and Its Transformative Applications,” explored clean hydrogen technologies and their potential to transform industries. It also highlighted the importance of technology improvement and regulatory frameworks to help reduce costs.
The IPHE, established in 2003, consists of 23 member countries and the European Commission. IPHE aims to advance hydrogen and fuel cell technologies globally, with its biannual Steering Committee Meetings serving as vital platforms for international collaboration and information exchange on policy and technical developments.
