The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today acknowledges and congratulates the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE) as it celebrates 20 years of international collaboration and coordination on clean hydrogen. Founded in 2003, IPHE is an independent entity that functions as a direct government-to-government partnership to facilitate and accelerate the transition to clean and efficient energy and mobility systems using hydrogen and fuel cell technologies across applications and sectors.
Today, IPHE is composed of 24 members from six continents, and it serves as a general coordinating mechanism for government officials at the senior working level. IPHE's members coordinate to inform stakeholders and the public about the benefits of and challenges to expanding deployment of commercial clean hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in the global economy. IPHE's efforts have focused on two core areas, represented by two working groups: Education and Outreach; and Regulations, Codes, Standards, and Safety. Each working group has a charter, conducts formal and ad-hoc meetings, and hosts workshops to help hydrogen professionals advance their skills and capabilities. IPHE also has three active task forces: Hydrogen Production Analysis (H2PA), Hydrogen Certification Mechanisms (H2CM), and Hydrogen Skills (H2S). And, through its active participation in the Breakthrough Agenda's Hydrogen Breakthrough, IPHE is currently playing a leading role in coordinating international efforts on clean hydrogen certification and standardization.
Through numerous workshops, symposia, and policy forums over the past two decades, IPHE has reached and impacted thousands of stakeholders working to shape the hydrogen programs and initiatives of member countries. Most recently, IPHE announced the launch of the H2-DEIA platform at the Hydrogen Americas Summit in Washington D.C. Recognizing the importance of increasing diverse representation and building a culture of inclusion and equity, IPHE launched H2-DEIA to focus on technical knowledge and capabilities unique to the field of clean hydrogen. The platform supports various initiatives to identify skills gaps; address challenges faced by underrepresented groups; and strengthen recruitment, retention, and advancement of clean hydrogen professionals.
"It is an honor to be a part of IPHE, and to celebrate this milestone. IPHE has been an invaluable resource for sharing successes, insights, and best practices across the international community," said Dr. Sunita Satyapal, IPHE vice chair and director of DOE's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office. "The growth of clean hydrogen has been a truly global story, and IPHE, in collaboration with other international hydrogen partnerships, will be crucial to ensuring the future of clean hydrogen is a global success."
