NHA Participates in World Hydrogen Energy Conference
Held in Buenos Aires
by Karen Miller, Coordinator, National Hydrogen Association
Robert Mauro [NHA’s Executive Vice President]
and I, along with a few other American hydrogen industry representatives,
lent our number to the 385 participants that attended the World Hydrogen
Energy Conference (WHEC) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from June 22-25. I
was filled with trepidation about this conference, as communications between
the organizing committee in Argentina and the United States were scarce
prior to the conference. However, the organizing committee did an excellent
job of pulling together a highly professional conference. The Argentinian
people were quite friendly and helpful. Nearly everyone I met spoke English,
and I learned a little Spanish. The main outing was a fabulous dinner at
“Senor Tango,” which included a professional Tango show. The quality
and quantity of the food was unrivaled, especially the beef!
Most participants gave one or more presentations.
The number of presentations forced the conference coordinators to set up
five-minute windows for many of the topics, allowing poster presentations
for detail. The NHA gave two presentations. Robert Mauro gave a poster presentation
describing the implementation activities in hydrogen, and I presented the
ongoing codes and standards activities with which the NHA is involved. Both
presentations were well received.
In addition, the Sourcebook
for Hydrogen Applications was unveiled. The first generation of
the Sourcebook is available through the NHA and Canadian Hydrogen
Association.
The technical program was extensive. There were
frequently four or five sessions running concurrently, which meant I could
not possibly participate in everything I was interested in seeing. However,
I had the chance to read about it in the three-volume proceedings, which
were handed out at registration (thank goodness for luggage with wheels!)
There were some common themes which seemed to
jump out at me during the conference. Firstly, hydrogen associations are
springing up in other countries. Germany, Norway, France, Sweden, and Argentina
have them, in addition to the U.S. and Canada. There were several discussions
of future cooperation and synergy.
Secondly, Argentina sees hydrogen energy as
a very real solution to urban air pollution. German businesses have a growing
interest in hydrogen; however, the German administration has not been as
supportive as the U.S. and Canadian governments.
Finally, all countries are interested in the
development of international safety codes and standards for hydrogen systems.
Keep your eyes open for an announcement for WHEC 2000, to be held in Beijing,
China. Information on this and other upcoming conferences can be found on
the NHA Webpage’s Calendar of Renewable
Energy Meetings.
©1998. All Rights Reserved. A Publication of
the National Hydrogen Association.
This material may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
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