The 41st Steering Committee Meeting of the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE) commenced its formal proceedings on March 19, 2024, at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi. Hosted by India, the meeting, spanning from March 18 to March 22, 2024, gathered delegates from across the globe to deliberate on the deployment of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives.
During the inaugural session, Dr Noe Van Hulst, Vice Chair of IPHE, commended India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission and expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality extended to IPHE delegates. Joint Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Ajay Yadav, emphasised the pivotal role of Green Hydrogen in decarbonising economies and stressed the need for collaborative efforts in this realm.
Delegates from Austria, Chile, France, European Commission, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, UAE, UK, US, Singapore, South Korea, and host country India participated in the meeting. Discussions centred around various international initiatives promoting Green Hydrogen, including the Glasgow Breakthrough Agenda, Hydrogen Energy Ministerial, Clean Energy Ministerial, H2 Initiative, Clean Hydrogen Mission Innovation, G7 Hydrogen Action Pact, G20, COP28, and the International Energy Agency.
The Steering Committee scrutinised the progress of several working groups (WGs) and task forces (TFs), providing suggestions for fortifying their efforts. Notably, the WGs focused on ‘Regulations, Codes, Standards & Safety (RCSS)’ and ‘Education & Outreach’, while the TFs tackled issues such as ‘Hydrogen Skills’, ‘Hydrogen Production Analysis’, ‘Hydrogen Certification Mechanisms’, and ‘Hydrogen Trade Rules’. Furthermore, the role of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) framework in facilitating international trade in Hydrogen was highlighted.
Reviewing the IPHE’s vision and roadmap for short and medium-term objectives was another significant aspect of the proceedings. The meeting also served as a platform for academic outreach, with the first day dedicated to insightful discussions at IIT Delhi, where conference delegates shared valuable insights into the future of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
