Countries launch a new international effort on hydrogen to help achieve global clean energy ambitions

Vancouver, B.C.- At the 10th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM10) meeting today, a new international hydrogen partnership will be announced under the leadership of Canada, the United States, Japan, the Netherlands and the European Commission with participation of several other CEM member countries. The International Energy Agency (IEA) will be coordinating efforts under this initiative. For the first time, under the Clean Energy Ministerial, this effort will put the spotlight on the role that hydrogen and fuel cell technologies can play in the global clean energy transition.

The new Hydrogen Initiative will drive 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.

The new Hydrogen Initiative will focus 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.

The private sector also plays an important role in this global transition, and the Hydrogen Initiative will leverage and benefit from the knowledge, expertise and early investments made by both the private and public sectors. Leading industry stakeholders and collaborative forums such as the Hydrogen Council will contribute to work undertaken through the initiative.

As host of the 10th Clean Energy Ministerial meeting in Vancouver, Canada and co-leading member of this new Hydrogen Initiative, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources stated, “Canada is proud to be a founding member of this initiative which demonstrates our commitment to growing economies and workforces. Hydrogen is playing an important role in building the clean energy future.”

“I’d like to thank Canada for hosting this Clean Energy Ministerial and for proposing the new CEM initiative on hydrogen. The Department of Energy is proud to join Canada and other CEM countries on this new initiative and to advance work on hydrogen together. Hydrogen contributes to creating a promising energy future, one that is bountiful and clean, secure and free. Hydrogen will continue to be an important part of our all-of-the-above energy strategy.”-Under Secretary of Energy, Mark W. Menezes

Hydrogen Council and Co-chair and Chairman and CEO of Air Liquid, Benoit Potier said: “We, as industry, are ready to invest in hydrogen technology and set up large-scale projects to boos deployment. But, in order to scale up hydrogen solutions, we now need the appropriate regulatory frameworks that will create an environment to encourage this. Multilateral cooperation is essential to tackle the global challenge of climate change by moving towards and energy transition, and the Clean Energy Ministerial Hydrogen Initiative is a great example of collaboration to make this possible.”

“The IEA is very pleased to have the coordination role of this exciting new CEM Hydrogen Initiative. Recent IEA analysis, due out next month at the G20 Ministers’ meeting, shows that CEM countries and key stakeholders are right to focus on hydrogen right now, especially given the need for international cooperation to accelerate deployment,” Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director, International Energy Agency.

Media Requests/Inquiries:

Eva Stepniewska-Wells, Manager of Operations and Communications, CEM Secretariat
Eva.stepniewska@cemsecretariat.org

Natural Resources Canada, Media Relations, 343-292-6100, NRCan.media_relations-media_relations.RNCan@canada.ca 

Clean Energy Ministerial Background

Website: https://www.cleanenergyministerial.org

• Created in 2010, the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) is a global forum where major economies and forward leaning countries work together to share best practices and promote policies and programs that encourage and facilitate the transition to a global clean energy economy.
• CEM members account for approximately 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 90% of global clean energy investments.
• The annual CEM Ministerial meeting is the only high-level political engagement where ministers gather to establish clean energy priorities, put forward innovative policies and adopt concrete measures to accelerate the deployment of clean solutions and where the work is carried through year-round CEM initiatives and campaigns.
• The CEM’s initiatives and campaigns enable low-cost, high-impact technical work that amplifies each government’s clean energy deployment efforts. They seek to catalyse public and private actions towards ambitious but realistic targets.
• To achieve its goals, the CEM works with partners from the private sector, international organisations and civil society to bring their respective abilities, strengths, and resources to the table.

Hydrogen Council Background

• As a group of CEOs of leading global businesses, the Hydrogen Council invites policy-makers, investors and civil society stakeholders to acknowledge the contribution and potential of hydrogen as a key element of the energy transition.
• Together, we seek to define and implement a specific action plan with appropriate supporting tools that will help accelerate major investment into large-scale commercialization of hydrogen solutions across industries world-wide.
• The Hydrogen Council is a global initiative of leading energy, transport and industry companies with a united vision and long-term ambition for hydrogen to foster the energy transition.
• Launched at the World Economic Forum in 2017, in Davis, the growing coalition of CEOS have the ambition to:

1. Accelerate their significant investment in the development and commercialization of the hydrogen and fuel cell sectors.
2. Encourage key stakeholders to increase their backing of hydrogen as part of the future energy mix with appropriate policies and supporting schemes.