Context: 41st Steering Committee Meeting of International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE) is being hosted in India.
About International Partnership for Hydrogen & Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE)
IPHE is an international partnership mechanism to organise and implement, effective, efficient and focused international research, development, demonstration and commercial utilisation activities related to hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
The formation of IPHE was facilitated by US Department of Energy and US Department of Transportation in 2003 to foster international cooperation on hydrogen and fuel cell.
Membership of IPHE: 23 Countries including India and the European Commission. However, membership of IPHE does not result in any legally binding obligations on Partners.
Functions of IPHE are:
- Identify and promote potential areas of bilateral and multilateral collaboration on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
- Analyse and recommend priorities for research, development, demonstration and commercial utilisation of hydrogen technologies and equipment.
- Analyse and develop policy recommendation on technical guidance, including common codes, standards and regulations to advance hydrogen and fuel cell technology development, demonstration and commericial use.
- Foster implementation of large-scale, long-term public private cooperation to advance hydrogen and fuel cell technology and infrastructure research, demonstration and commercial use, in accordance with Partners' priorities.
- Coordinate and leverage resources to advance bilateral and multilateral cooperation in hydrogen and fuel cell technology research, development, demonstration and commercial utilisation.
- Address emerging technical, financial, legal, market, socio-economic, environmental and policy issues and opportunities related to hydrogen and fuel cell technology that are not currently being addressed elsewhere.
Organisation of IPHE
- Chair of the IPHE is elected by IPHE members for a term of two years, with a potential for renewal.
- Steering Committee with two representatives for each of the Partner countries governs the overall framework and procedures of IPHE.
- Secretariat of IPHE to be coordinate overall activities of IPHE.
Funding of IPHE: Any costs arising from the activities will be borne by the Partner that incurs them. Secretariat Office is supported by voluntary contributions (Financial or in-kind) of all members.