Hydrogen Initiative | Clean Energy Ministerial |Hydrogen Initiative

Overview

Hydrogen Initiative

The CEM Hydrogen Initiative (launched at CEM10 in Vancouver, Canada) puts the spotlight on the role that hydrogen and fuel cell technologies can play in the global clean energy transition.

The Hydrogen Initiative drives international collaboration on policies, programs and projects to accelerate the commercial deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies across all sectors of the economy.

Drawing on the recommendations from the Hydrogen Energy Ministerial Meeting in 2018 in Japan, this cross-country collaboration will build on the successes of other global collaborations on hydrogen such as the Hydrogen Challenge under Mission Innovation, the ongoing work through the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the economy and global analysis carried out through the International Energy Agency (IEA).

It will aim to address barriers and identify opportunities for hydrogen in the global transformation to a clean, affordable and reliable energy sector looking at the global supply chains of this new energy vector.

Key Accomplishments

Highlights for 2020-2021 include:

IEA released a Hydrogen in NorthWest Europe Report in April 2021 under working group 3 of the H2I work plan. Read the report here.
Under the leadership of the European Union, H2I launched the Global Ports Coalition at CEM12 in June 2021 under working group 2. As of September 2021, there are over 50 ports signed on. To see a webinar on the Global ports Coalition click here.
At COP26 in November 2021, the United States led the launch of a global H2 Twin Cities Program under working group 5. Learn more here.

Goals

The Hydrogen Initiative focuses on how hydrogen can contribute to cleaner energy systems, while promoting sustainability, resiliency and energy security. Initial work carried out through the initiative will focus on three different areas:

1. Helping to ensure successful deployment of hydrogen within current industrial applications.

2. Enabling deployment of hydrogen technologies in transport (e.g. freight, mass transit, light-rail, marine).

3. Exploring the role of hydrogen in meeting the energy needs of communities.

Key Activities

The CEM H2I members have approved an ambitious work programme for the period 2021-2022. The plan includes the following activities: