Hydrogen Fuel Cells - Events

The HFC Conference

The hydrogen economy could be just two decades away, but if we do not start today, ten years from now it will still be two decades away (Gabriel F. de Scheemaker, Shell Hydrogen, Tokyo)

A United Nations University international conference on Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Alternatives in the Transport Sector: Issues for Developing Countries took place at UNU-INTECH from 7-9 November 2005. 40 experts drawn from the private sector, research organizations and policymaking institutions in both developed and developing countries assessed the status of hydrogen fuel cell activities and alternative technology applications in the transport sector.

Conference participants

"If the future is still 'hydrogen', countries will need to make some tough decisions now," noted Professor Lynn Mytelka, coordinator of a joint UNU research and capacity building project in this area (with the UNU-Energy and Sustainable Development Programme and UNU-Geothermal Training Programme). This will include making judgements on whether to wait until all pieces of the system are in place or to take action now; how to build a path today that does not compromise change in the future; and how to incorporate a range of options - gasoline, methanol and hydrogen without wasteful investment.

Download conference papers

UNU-MERIT CSD-15 Side Event on Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Alternatives in the Energy and Transport Sectors: Policy Issues for Developing Countries

The following presentations are available:
Building the Hydrogen Economy: Enabling Infrastructure Development, by Dr. Robert K. Dixon, Head, Energy Technology Policy Division, International Energy Agency (PDF 129 KB)

The Hydrogen Energy Market in developing countries: The Role of UNIDO-ICHET, by Dr. N. Lymberopoulos, Director, Projects and Programmes (PDF 1 MB)

Egypt’s Policies and Measures for Sustainable Transport, by Prof. Ibrahim Abdel Gelil, Director, Environmental Management Programme at the Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain (PDF 437 KB)

Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Alternatives in the Energy and Transport Sectors: Issues for Developing Countries, by Lynn K. Mytelka, Professorial Fellow, UNU-MERIT (PDF 37 KB)