The 41st Steering Committee Meeting of the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE) commenced in New Delhi, India.
The five-day gathering from March 18 to 22, 2024, began with an IPHE Academic Outreach session at IIT Delhi, where industry leaders and experts shared insights into the future of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
Addressing the inaugural session, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, Prof. Ajay Sood, stressed the need for collaborative efforts to enhance the affordability and sustainability of hydrogen technologies. He emphasized the crucial role of skill development and research and development (R&D) in advancing the sector, highlighting initiatives from various ministries towards adopting Green Hydrogen.
Additional Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Sudeep Jain, stressed the urgency of addressing climate change and emphasized the importance of academic and research collaboration to facilitate the transition to clean energy, advocating for a shift towards green hydrogen.
Noe Van Hulst, Vice-Chairperson of IPHE, recognized India’s significance as a global economic powerhouse and emphasized the role of academia in driving innovation and shaping the future of clean hydrogen.
Prof. Naresh Bhatnagar, Dean of Research and Development at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, highlighted the institute’s contributions to hydrogen-powered vehicle research and its focus on energy systems education and R&D.
Kishor Nair, CEO of Avaada Group, discussed India’s and other countries’ initiatives towards energy transition and urged academia and researchers to contribute innovative technology ideas to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of hydrogen production and applications.
In his welcome remarks, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Ajay Yadav, emphasized the significance of Green Hydrogen as a future alternative fuel and outlined the Government of India’s efforts to promote it under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
The event also featured engaging activities, including poster presentations and a quiz competition, with prizes awarded to the top three winners.
Two panel discussions enriched the IPHE Academic Outreach, with the first panel focusing on skill development in the clean/green hydrogen sector and the second exploring the transformative potential of clean/green hydrogen technologies across industries. Discussions highlighted the need for skilled personnel, technology improvements, and regulatory frameworks to drive the adoption of clean hydrogen.
The meeting sets the stage for collaborative efforts towards a cleaner and sustainable energy future, with India playing a central role in shaping global hydrogen policies and initiatives.
