Emerging Markets for Hydrogen as a Transportation Fuel
Matt Chester of Chester Energy and Policy is also the head of Alternative Energy at JNK Securities. As a part of that role, he hosts regular TechLeaderBoard panels on a variety of relevant energy issues, bringing together key experts in the topic areas.
In this panel, the following was featured:
The push to move away from oil as the sole transportation fuel has largely seen a shift towards electric vehicles, but for many applications (e.g., shipping, aviation, and others) electricity is a non-ideal or even impractical solution. In the effort to find alternative ways to decarbonize these transportation needs, hydrogen fuel has emerged as a potential game changing energy source. However, the buzz behind hydrogen energy has persisted for some time without making the types of commercial inroads that have been seen by other alternative energy disruptors in the clean tech space. Why has the progress been slower to penetrate the market, and what does the landscape of today’s energy industry tell us about the possibility that hydrogen as a transportation fuel may be soon about to reach that necessary inflection point. This latest call with the TechLeaderBoard will bring together top expert voices in the world of hydrogen energy to discuss.
Topics Covered
- Let's start with a simple primer on hydrogen as a transportation fuel for those listening in who may not have the scientific background. Can you give us the quick elevator pitch on where hydrogen fuel comes from and what its advantages are over other forms of transportation energy?
- Hydrogen as a transportation fuel has been something that's had an amount of buzz for some years, but is still minor in scale to this day. What are the hold ups these days, is it technological, market-based, engrained in institutional patterns, something else?
- We seem to be closer than ever to making real headway to hydrogen transportation in a number of different markets. What are the specific use cases where you think hydrogen as a transportation fuel is really going to take off first?
- We would be remiss not to touch upon the current issues in the global oil markets because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, given how in many ways hydrogen may be seen as a replacement for these energy types. Is this moment an opportunity for hydrogen stakeholders to turn more heads and shine a light on where hydrogen can excel where oil remains perilous?
- Is this a key area where public policy is going to come into play? What are the regulatory roadblocks to hydrogen fuel right now and, on the other hand, what are some of the ideal types of government support that hydrogen can hope to benefit from in the coming years (whether that's already in the pipeline or it's something you'd just wish to see)?
- There is no shortage of companies looking to become the big play in hydrogen transportation, to be the Tesla of hydrogen if you will. When you look at the competitive landscape, what characteristics are you looking for to see who the real disruptors will be? What are the types of companies that are really going to win big here
Panelists:
Tim Sasseen, Director of Market Development and Public Affairs North America at Ballard Power Systems
David Cavanagh, Chief Hydrogen Officer at Hydogen West and Hydrogen Mobility Standards Contributor at Standards Australia
Ewald Perwog, Head of Hydrogen Project at MPRIES Sustainable Energy Solutions