New Delhi: The International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE) continued its 41st Steering Committee Meeting in New Delhi, focusing on global collaboration and advancements in hydrogen technology.
The meeting, hosted by India at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan from March 18 to 22, 2024, has seen active participation from delegates representing countries including Austria, Chile, France, the European Commission, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, UAE, UK, US, Singapore, and South Korea.
During the proceedings, the delegates presented updates on their countries’ hydrogen strategies, detailing national initiatives in research and development, policy formulation, and infrastructure development aimed at fostering a robust hydrogen economy.
“The delegates mentioned national clean hydrogen strategies; research and development initiatives related to hydrogen production, storage, and transportation; status of demand creation, infrastructure development, supply and demand at scale, and upskilling of workforce,” said the committee.
Discussions at the meeting emphasized the exploration of business models for hydrogen transportation, production, and storage, along with the potential for international collaborations to support finance, policy, regulations, and sustainable commercial models.
Additionally, the meeting delved into regulatory frameworks, emission savings detection methodologies, and the creation of dedicated hydrogen infrastructure and markets, including hydrogen banks and import-export corridors.
The committee also revisited decisions and actions from its 40th meeting and discussed the IPHE membership, advocating for broader international participation, particularly from countries in the Global South. “It was suggested that membership should be promoted to ensure wider participation of the international community,” the committee noted.
In a significant development, it was agreed that the European Commission would host the 42nd Steering Committee Meeting during the European Hydrogen Week in November this year. The chair urged stakeholders to “adopt bold measures to accelerate the deployment of green hydrogen in all possible sectors of the economy on a priority basis,” highlighting the importance of hydrogen in achieving global clean energy goals.
