Following successful conferences in Yokohama in 2004 and Lyon in 2006, we look forward to welcoming you to Brisbane, Australia for the staging of the 17th World Hydrogen Energy Conference in 2008. Brisbane, the capital city of Australia's premier tourist state, Queensland, is witnessing phenomenal growth and economic activity by world standards and is an ideal host city. The conference will provide extensive networking opportunities to delegates and deliver the most relevant information on all matters concerning hydrogen and fuel cell technology.
The 17th World Hydrogen Energy Conference will cover a wide range of technical issues; from how hydrogen is safely produced, stored, transported and utilised to broader topics such as environment, education and regulatory developments.
Lessons learned from the CUTE hydrogen fuel cell bus field trial based in Perth, Western Australia, will give attendees at this meeting a unique perspective on Hydrogen Energy.
The programme of the 17th World Hydrogen Energy Conference 2008 will cover a range of topics highlighting the complex issues of hydrogen as an energy carrier. These will include methods of generating hydrogen, materials for hydrogen storage, infrastructure development and hydrogen utilisation technologies, particularly fuel cell systems.
The subject of hydrogen generation will cover everything from the conversion of fossil fuels to the use of renewable energy sources and nuclear power. Fossil fuel conversion includes processes for the gasification of coal and biomass, thermochemical systems such as steam reforming, and photochemical systems. The electricity produced from natural renewable energy sources, or even nuclear electricity, could be used to generate hydrogen by the electrolysis of water and development of these technologies will be reviewed.
Sessions on hydrogen storage will be devoted to the investigation of advanced materials such as metal hydrides, chemical hydrides and carbon nano-structures as well as cryogenic and compressed hydrogen storage.
Sessions on infrastructure development will discuss the technical viability and economics of energy transport and refuelling stations.
Hydrogen utilisation forms a key area of the programme, with sessions covering the use of hydrogen in engines and turbines as well as the many types of fuel cells currently under development for transport, stationary and portable power systems.
Interest in fuel cell vehicles continues to grow as more demonstrations are launched, and these will be reviewed together with associated technical issues such as the design of on-board storage tanks. Items such as proton exchange membrane (PEM), alkaline fuel cells (AFC), solid oxide (SOFC), and molton cabonate fuel cells (MCFC) will also be covered.
The international and environmental perspectives of hydrogen energy, as well economic and financial topics, will be covered in the programme,. A session will be devoted to the issue of safety and the development of international codes and standards. Hydrogen and fuel cell technology education will also be a focus area of the conference programme.
We look forward to seeing you in Brisbane in June 2008.
