Virtual Forum on Hydrogen Economy

By 2050, hydrogen could meet up to 24% of the world’s energy needs, according to BloombergNEF. The demand for pure hydrogen is already around 70 Mt per year, mostly for use in oil refining and chemical production. This hydrogen is primarily produced from natural gas and coal, emitting substantial amounts of CO2.

Today, countries are announcing national strategies to support the hydrogen industry. But will these new policies and investments help or hinder hydrogen’s role in the energy transition?

IISD is organizing a series of three webinars on the Hydrogen Economy on October 26 (public event), October 27 (parallel workshops on key issues) and November 2 (high-level discussion of recommendations for how governments should best intervene and support the market – attendance by invitation only). The event will spotlight the following questions:

• How could international trade of hydrogen play a role? What are the standards and requirements?
• Which niche markets should get all the focus today? (e.g. long-haul transportation, industrial use)
• What are the policy packages and financing mechanisms and needs?

Join us on October 26th and 27th to hear industry experts, policymakers, and academics from around the globe explore answers to these questions and more.

Program

October 26 | Geneva (UTC +2) 2 pm | Beijing (UTC +8) 9 pm

Welcome and introduction

Are we at the start of the age of hydrogen?  Which countries and industries are leading the way?

Moderator: ​Peter Wooders, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)

Presentations:

• Introduction to the hydrogen economy, Richard Florizone, CEO, IISD
• Global perspectives on the hydrogen economy, Antoine Vagneur-Jones, EMEA Energy Transition Associate, BNEF
• Sweden’s energy goals, climate policies and sectors, Speaker TBC
• What’s behind Germany’s EUR 9 billion to spend as a strategy?  Speaker TBC
• Clean Hydrogen Alliance, Noam Boussidan, Platform Curator on Energy, World Economic Forum (WEF)

October 27 | Geneva (UTC +2) 2 pm | Beijing (UTC +8) 9 pm

Workshop 1

Present prospects for industrial use of hydrogen 

Moderator: ​Richard Bridle, International  Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)

Presentations:

• Hydrogen production in Inner Mongolia and prospects of international trade, Michael B. McElroy, Gilbert Butler Professor of Environmental Studies at Harvard University
• Current status of industrial hydrogen: Uses, trends and prospects, Mark Zacharias, Clean Energy Canada
• Market outlook for industrial hydrogen in China, Dang Yanbao, Baofeng Energy Group
• Japan’s hydrogen use and trade implications for trade, Monica Nagashima, Japan Energy Transition Initiative
• Project experience of industrial hydrogen, Samuel Perez Ramirez, Iberdrola

October 27 | Geneva (UTC +2) 3.30 pm | Beijing (UTC +8) 10.30 pm

Workshop 1

Which transport sectors are on the brink of a  hydrogen transition?

Moderator: ​Mostafa Mostafa,​ ​International  Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)

Presentations:

• H2 Energy, Hyundai making hydrogen trucks in Switzerland today, Rolf Huber, H2 Energy
• A challenge for hydrogen mobility combining local and global cooperation, Jean-Pierre Ponssard, Professor of Economics – École Polytechnique
• International Energy Agency, Fuel Cells and Transportation Roadmap, Jacob Teter, IEA
• Transportation in Canada, Stefan Pauer, Clean Energy Canada
• Freight Transportation – Towards the hydrogen economy, David Layzell, Director of the Canadian Energy Systems Analysis Research
• Hydrogen is the missing link in Europe’s strategy, William Todts, Transport & Environment

November 2 | Geneva (UTC +2) 2 pm | Beijing (UTC +8)  9 pm

High-level panel – Attendance by invitation only

Global leadership and government perspectives on the hydrogen-based energy system