New Delhi: The 41st Steering Committee Meeting of the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE) began in New Delhi on March 18, 2024, and will continue until March 22, 2024.
The opening day of the five-day gathering was dedicated to IPHE Academic Outreach, held at IIT Delhi, where conference attendees shared insights into the future of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
Addressing the inaugural session, Prof. Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, underscored the imperative of making hydrogen more economical and environmentally friendly. He emphasized the significance of skill development and research and development (R&D) in the sector, noting efforts across various ministries toward the adoption of green hydrogen.
Sudeep Jain, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, emphasized the challenges posed by climate change and stressed the necessity for collaborative efforts between academia and research institutions to facilitate the transition to clean energy, particularly by moving away from grey hydrogen toward green alternatives.
Noe Van Hulst, Vice-Chairperson of IPHE, acknowledged India’s pivotal role in shaping the global clean energy landscape and emphasized the importance of education, research, and innovation in advancing clean hydrogen technologies.
Prof. Naresh Bhatnagar, Dean of Research and Development at IIT Delhi, highlighted the institute’s longstanding involvement in hydrogen-powered vehicle research and its academic programs focusing on energy systems.
Kishor Nair, Chief Executive Officer of Avaada Group, discussed India’s and other nations’ initiatives toward energy transition and urged academia and research communities to contribute technology ideas for enhancing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of hydrogen-related processes.
Ajay Yadav, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, underscored the significance of green hydrogen as a future alternative fuel and outlined the government’s efforts to promote it under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
The event featured interactive sessions, including poster presentations and a quiz competition, culminating in the recognition of top achievers.
Two panel discussions were also held as part of the IPHE Academic Outreach. The first panel, titled “Empowering Expertise: Cultivating Skill Development in the Clean/Green Hydrogen Arena,” highlighted the need for skilled personnel in the green hydrogen sector and stressed the importance of safety, security, and regulatory standards.
The second panel, “Unveiling the Future: Clean/Green Hydrogen Technologies and Its Transformative Applications,” explored the potential of clean hydrogen across various industries and discussed strategies for reducing production, storage, transportation, and consumption costs through technological advancements and regulatory frameworks.
