Hydrogen – the lightest element and first on the Periodic Table – has a lot of reasons to celebrate. Not only is hydrogen increasingly being utilized as a fuel in zero-emission fuel cell vehicles, it is helping provide resilient power to communities, continuous operation to critical networks, the potential for large-scale energy storage, and pathways to decarbonize energy intensive industries.
Hydrogen is increasingly used in zero-emission fuel cell vehicles.
For the past six years, the fuel cell and hydrogen industry, its allies, stakeholders, and policymaker champions have given this energy powerhouse its due through the celebration of National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day. This day, October 8 (10.08), was selected in recognition of hydrogen’s atomic weight (1.008).
The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA) spearheads this annual event marking the upward growth and outward breadth of the industry by raising awareness of the benefits hydrogen provides in increasing energy, environmental, and economic security around the world.
National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day is celebrated on October 8 (10.08) in recognition of hydrogren’s atomic weight (1.008).
Federal and State Support for National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day
In the U.S., fuel cells and hydrogen technologies are supported at the federal level in both houses of Congress, as well as on both sides of the political aisle. This year, the United States Senate passed the bipartisan Senate Resolution 720, officially recognizing October 8, 2020, as National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day for the sixth year in a row. On the House side, the bipartisan Resolution 1158, was introduced.
The Governors of Colorado and Hawaii, citing the array of benefits that hydrogen technologies and the industry located there brings to their states, also issued proclamations acknowledging National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day. In Pennsylvania, the state legislation unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the day.
Due to COVID-19 precautions, the majority of activities surrounding National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day were conducted virtually throughout the week this year. These events featured a plethora of webinars and online events featuring leading top-level industry executives and technical experts.
A new report finds tremendous potential for hydrogen, including creating 700,000 jobs and $140 billion in revenue by 2030.
Launch of report “Road Map to a US Hydrogen Economy”
This included the multi-day launch of a major report, Road Map to a US Hydrogen Economy, which finds tremendous potential for hydrogen with the proper investment and policy support, including creating 700,000 jobs and $140 billion in revenue by 2030. By 2050, those numbers could grow to 3.4 million jobs, $750 billion in revenue, while achieving substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
There were also creative and significant announcements surrounding National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, including:
- The US. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) hosted several webinars during the week, and on October 8th, announced an investment of $100 million, subject to appropriations, for two new national laboratory consortia. H2NEW will conduct research and development (R&D) on large-scale electrolyzer manufacturing and the Million Mile Fuel Cell Truck (M2FCT) consortium will conduct R&D to accelerate development of fuel cells for heavy-duty vehicle applications, including long-haul trucks. DOE also renewed funding for the HydroGEN Advanced Water Splitting Materials and Electrocatalysis (ElectroCat) consortia.
- Hyundai celebrated a major milestone on October 8th, with its U.S. fleet of fuel cell vehicles accumulating more than 10.9 million miles, the equivalent of circumnavigating the Earth more than 437 times.
- BayoTech and New Mexico Gas Company announced a collaboration to explore opportunities to establish New Mexico as a hydrogen hub in the United States.
- Highlighting the greater good that the industry can achieve when working together, Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) worked with its local Toyota Mirai fuel cell vehicle dealership, Longo Toyota of El Monte, to donate 1,008 meals to the non-profit, Meals on Wheels.
- For the second year in a row, Innovate Australia hosted an event supporting its own Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day activities, making this event truly international.
- Industry leaders, including Plug Power, FuelCell Energy, Nuvera Fuel Cells, Air Liquide, Cummins, the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition, and many others, also shared in the festivities with press releases, blog posts, and more.
FCHEA has compiled a majority of the activities, acknowledgements, and events that took place to celebrate hydrogen and fuel cells. You can see that long list here and search #FuelCellsNow and #HydrogenNow on social media for loads more – be sure to retweet and follow what looks exciting to you!
