50th ANNIVERSARY

A beacon of global hydrogen development by Prof. Dr. ZQ Mao, VP of the IAHE

---- Commemorating the 50th anniversary of IAHE and honoring the memory of its founder, Professor Turhan Nejat Veziroglu

Mao Zongqiang (Vice President of IAHE, Former President of CAHE, Professor at Tsinghua University, maozq@tsinghua.edu.cn)

Introduction

In October 2024, we celebrate the 50th birthday of the International Hydrogen Association (IAHE). Since its founding in 1974, this global non-profit organization has been dedicated to advancing the development and application of hydrogen technology. On this memorable occasion, we reflect on IAHE's development, discuss its contribution to the global hydrogen industry, and look ahead to the important role of hydrogen in the future energy system.

IAHE's founding and mission

IAHE was founded by Professor Turhan Nejat Veziroglu of the University of Miami on October 21, 1974. Since its inception, IAHE has made its mission clear: to promote scientific research, technology development and commercial application of hydrogen as a clean and efficient energy source. The establishment of IAHE marks a new stage in the global research and application of hydrogen energy.

Major achievements of IAHE

Over the past 50 years, Professor NEJAT's IAHE has achieved a number of remarkable achievements:

1. Founded IAHE, the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. It provides a platform for hydrogen researchers around the world to exchange and share the latest research results. IJHE has supported and published tens of thousands of high-quality, expert-reviewed hydrogen energy-related papers, driving theoretical innovation, communication and technological progress in hydrogen science.

2. Hold an international hydrogen energy Conference. IAHE holds the International Hydrogen Energy Conference (WHEC) and the International Hydrogen Energy Technology Conference (WHTC) in dozens of countries around the world, providing opportunities for exchanges and cooperation between experts and scholars in the field of hydrogen energy and industry.

3. Set up IAHE hydrogen energy awards. IAHE awards hydrogen energy awards to outstanding units and individuals in the field of hydrogen energy, inspiring the enthusiasm of hydrogen energy research and application around the world.

IAHE and NEJAT and hydrogen energy development in China

IAHE and Professor NEJAT are very concerned about hydrogen energy development in China. For example, in the case of fierce competition in many cities, NEJAT chose to hold the 13th WHEC in Beijing in 2000, the 5th WHTC in Shanghai in 2013, and the 10th WHTC in Foshan in 2023. China's hydrogen energy industry also lived up to the expectations of IAHE and NEJAT, and earnestly organized conferences and exhibitions. The number of participants was 400, 800 and more than 2,000, respectively, the largest number of participants in the history of IAHE, which not only promoted the international exchange of China's hydrogen energy technology, but also injected vitality into the development of China's hydrogen energy industry.

The awarding of IAHE's hydrogen energy awards to a number of Chinese enterprises and individuals has greatly encouraged the confidence of China's hydrogen energy community. For example, In 2006, Professor Ma Zongqiang, the then President of the Chinese Hydrogen Society, was honored with the Jules Verne Award for his significant contributions to the development of hydrogen energy in China. This award, named after the French science fiction author Jules Verne, recognized his foresight in his 1874 novel 'The Mysterious Island', where he foresaw the concept of hydrogen energy.

In 2008, Professor Wan Gang of Tongji University in China (who later served as China's Minister of Science and Technology, Chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology, etc.) won the 2008 IAHE Sir William Grove Award for Leadership in the Field of Electrochemistry for the first time carrying out groundbreaking large-scale trials of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in China, named after the British inventor of fuel cell Sir William Grove. Since then, China's SAIC Motor and CRRC have also won this award in 2012 and 2018 respectively.

Shanxi Guoxin Group Corporation, China, has been awarded the 2014 IAHE Rudolph A. Erren Thermochemistry Leadership Award, named after Rudolf Eren, the famous German developer of hydrogen-fueled vehicles, for promoting natural hydrogen-blending (HCNG) internal combustion engine vehicles and building HCNG refueling stations in China.

IAHE recognizes China's contribution to the international hydrogen energy, and the Chinese hydrogen energy industry is also trying to make a return. For example, when the author of this article attended 24th WHEC in Cancun, Mexico, 2024, he saw a number of Chinese-made hydrogen fuel cell buses being used by the Mexican conference organizers to transport delegates. China's hydrogen achievements have served the world and won the praise of representatives from all countries.

IAHE actively supports Chinese scholars to participate in the development of international standards related to hydrogen energy. For example, Academician Zheng Jinyang as the chairman of the International Hydrogen Energy Association Specifications and Standards Committee (IAHE CSD), which is crucial to the technical specifications and product quality improvement of China's hydrogen energy industry.

NEJAT visited Shanghai and Xi 'an many times, and Chinese representatives also visited IAHE headquarters many times, and were warmly received by NEJAT and his wife.

What makes me unforgettable is that in the initial stage of hydrogen energy in China, there were very few popular science books about hydrogen energy in China. In 2002, NEJAT actively solved the copyright of the popular science book "Solar Hydrogen - the Power to save the Earth", which was translated into Chinese by me and my colleagues and graduate students. NEJAT also wrote the "President of the International Hydrogen Energy Association to Chinese Readers" to promote the book. This book popularized hydrogen energy in China and aroused the curiosity of readers. In 2000, I had the honor to be co-editor of the Proceedings of the 13th World Hydrogen Energy Congress with NEJAT. I benefited a lot from NEJAT's guidance and help. What particularly moved me was that on April 14, 2014, at the age of 90, NEJAT personally wrote the English preface to my Chinese book Hydrogen Production and Thermochemical Utilization (May 2015, Beijing), which was highly recommended and highly praised by Chinese readers. Today, the centenarian NEJAT has left us, but his hydrogen energy cause will always be with the world and benefit mankind.

Global carbon neutrality and the future of hydrogen energy

At present, the world is facing the severe challenge of climate change, and achieving "carbon neutrality" has become the consensus of the international community. Founded and led by Turhan Nejat Veziroglu, IAHE has laid a solid foundation for hydrogen's position in the global energy community over the past 50 years, and in the future, IAHE will continue to lead the global direction of hydrogen energy from the perspective of hydrogen science and hydrogen technology. In particular, IAHE should play a more important role in reshaping the hydrogen energy industry chain with scientific and technological updates, reducing hydrogen costs, and promoting the popularization of hydrogen energy.

Conclusion

IAHE's 50-year history is a microcosm of the development of the global hydrogen energy industry. Looking forward to the future, with the continuous progress of hydrogen science and technology and the growing global demand for clean energy, hydrogen energy will usher in a broader prospect for development. Let us hope that IAHE will play a greater role in the global hydrogen energy industry and contribute to the realization of the world's Sustainable Development Goals. I will always remember the founder of IAHE, Professor Turhan Nejat Veziroglu!