The 2021 Vienna Energy Forum (VEF) saw the launch and inauguration of the International Hydrogen Energy Center (IHEC), a key knowledge partner for the UNIDO Global Programme for Green Hydrogen in Industry.
"The new Centre is an important milestone on the road towards placing hydrogen at the heart of sustainable development", said UNIDO Director General LI Yong. "IHEC will undertake partnership and technical cooperation activities while disseminating its best practices and knowledge through UNIDO's extensive network of international and national offices, centres and projects".
The IHEC aims to achieve technological breakthroughs and play a strategic role in helping develop the global hydrogen energy industry by promoting best practices through south-south, triangular and regional cooperation; by carrying out technology research, development and application; and by supporting capacity building towards enhancing green hydrogen economies.
"UNIDO and the Government of China recognize the crucial role that hydrogen can play in the future energy system", said UNIDO Senior Technical Advisor and Project Manager LIU Heng. "They understood the urgent need to promote Hydrogen technology to make it more scalable, inclusive and affordable globally. IHEC will therefore work with different stakeholders, including governments, private sector and SMEs, R&D institutions, business and industry associations".
During the launch and inauguration ceremony, OUYANG Minggao, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Professor at Tsinghua University, delivered a statement on opportunities and challenges related to hydrogen energy development. IHEC was inaugurated by CHEN Jining, Mayor of Beijing Municipal Government; LI Yong, Director General of UNIDO, ZHANG Yi, Deputy Director General of CICETE, China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges, Ministry of Commerce, (CICETE/MOFCOM); and YOU Zheng, Vice President of Tsinghua University.
