Downey to host summit on hydrogen, fuel cell

DOWNEY - The California Hydrogen Business Council (CHBC) has released the agenda for the upcoming CHBC Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Summit at the Energy Research Center of Southern California Gas Company on April 9 in Downey.The program will highlight solutions for renewable energy integration, zero-emission transportation, and Cap and Trade. "At the Summit, attendees will participate in discussions with utilities, regulators, industry and other stakeholders that are invested in meeting California's strong commitments to provide 33% of renewable energy by 2020 and to reduce emissions", said Jeff Serfass, managing director of the CHBC. "Speakers will discuss hydrogen energy storage technology, transportation solutions, environmental commitments from ports, and the effectiveness of regulatory tools like the new Cap and Trade system." An energy storage panel with speakers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and companies that are engaged in hydrogen energy storage like Hydrogenics, Ballard Power Systems, and ITM Power, will provide updates on technological solutions and opportunities for the California energy market. A second panel will highlight alternative transportation technology, which met a significant milestone in March when Hyundai announced the first Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) to roll off an assembly line. This marks the launch of mass production of these emission-free cars. Honda, Toyota, GM, Daimler, Volkswagen and several other car companies have announced dates between 2015 and 2017 for their first mass produced FCEVs. The Summit will feature a panel with representatives from auto-manufacturers providing an overview of the latest regulatory and deployment developments as well as offering FCEVs for a test drive. A third panel will discuss the state's innovative Cap and Trade program funding and how it can be applied to emissions free technologies like hydrogen. Speakers will evaluate the progress of the program in the first few months, along with opportunities for the industry to support emission reduction. This day-long meeting on Tuesday, April 9, is open to the public and will feature speakers and panels from private and public entities. CHBC members and industry representatives will come together to learn about the latest technological advancements and legislative developments. The Summit will be both informational and provide ample networking opportunities for attendees.

********** Published: March 28, 2013 - Volume 11 - Issue 50