PRESS RELEASE: The Hydrogen Council today joined the 10th annual Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM10) meeting hosted by the Canadian government in Vancouver to celebrate the launch of the Hydrogen Initiative, a new effort to mobilize CEM-affiliated governments to consider policies and programmes in support of full-scale deployment of hydrogen technologies across all aspects of the economy. As a first-of-its-kind global group of CEOs from 54 energy, transport, and industry companies advocating for the accelerated deployment of hydrogen solutions, the Hydrogen Council will represent the industry in the CEM Hydrogen Initiative.
On behalf of the Council, Ballard Power Systems CEO Randy MacEwen spoke about the need for increased public-private partnerships, in conjunction with supporting market mechanisms, to scale hydrogen deployment, and reiterated Council members’ support in facilitating such cooperatives.
“The Hydrogen Council welcomes the launch of the CEM Hydrogen Initiative and is delighted to take part as its industry partner,” said MacEwen. “CEM is an essential forum where industry can directly engage with governments – an important mission of the Hydrogen Council – to increase awareness for the regulatory framework and financing schemes needed to scale hydrogen deployment.”
The Hydrogen Council has prioritised its international advocacy efforts providing national action plans and strategic roadmaps to develop hydrogen within and across sectors. A Hydrogen Council study found that industry invests an estimated total value of $1.6 billion per year on the development and commercialisation of the hydrogen and fuel cell sectors. With increased support from government, including adequate policy schemes, a mature hydrogen economy can help abate 6 Gt of annual CO2 emissions and result in $2.5 trillion in annual sales, creating 30 million jobs worldwide. The CEM Hydrogen Initiative is the latest collaboration aimed at accelerating this hydrogen-powered energy transition.
“We, as industry, are ready to invest in hydrogen technology and set up large-scale projects to boost deployment. But, in order to scale up hydrogen solutions, we now need the appropriate regulatory frameworks that will create an environment to encourage this,” said Benoît Potier, Hydrogen Council Co-chair and Chairman and CEO or Air Liquide. “Multilateral cooperation is essential to tackle the global challenge of climate change by moving towards an energy transition, and the Clean Energy Ministerial Hydrogen Initiative is a great example of collaboration to make this possible.”
On the occasion of the CEM Hydrogen Initiative launch, the Council also premiered its new video, Operation Hydrogen, for government ministers in attendance, highlighting the role hydrogen can play for improving global energy security, increasing economic growth, and combatting climate change. The video is available online along with photos from the Hydrogen Initiative launch event. Both can be viewed here: http://hydrogencouncil.com/hydrogen-council-joins-energy-ministers-in-support-of-hydrogen-initiative/
