H2 View Interviews FCHEA President Morry Markowitz on Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day
Connor Dolan
Exclusive: National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day
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By Molly Burgess on Oct 08, 2019
Famously celebrated on 8th October – or 10/08 – in recognition of the atomic weight of hydrogen (1.008), the fifth National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day takes place today, presenting a global opportunity to celebrate the hydrogen and fuel cell industry.
The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association, its members, industry organisations, and state and federal governments will be commemorating the day with a variety of activities and events across the US.
H2 View spoke exclusively to Morry Markowitz, President of The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association, to find out more about National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day and the importance behind the milestone day.
Morry Markowitz, President, Fuel Cells & Hydrogen Energy Association
This is an exciting day for the hydrogen industry. Could you tell us more about National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day?
National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day was first celebrated in America in October 2015 with the passage of an official resolution in the United States Senate.
The annual celebration of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day has grown into a global opportunity to join together to celebrate the achievements of the fuel cell and hydrogen industry around the world and raise awareness of the benefits that this transformational technology can bring to advance our energy, environmental, and economic future.
What are you expecting from National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day 2019?
This year we have already had a resolution passed in the US Senate recognising National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day and a House of Representatives resolution was just introduced on Friday (4th October 2019). We are anticipating companies and stakeholders from across the country to make announcements, host events, and share their stories demonstrating how fuel cells and hydrogen are making a difference today.
What do you think the highlights from National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day 2019 will be?
There are already a few standout highlights this year that we look forward to. Fuel cell manufacturer Power Innovations will be hosting a tour of their headquarters in Utah, the US Department of Energy will be commemorating the day with various activities throughout the week, and the Hydrogen Society of Australia will be hosting Australia’s first International Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day.
Why do you think hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are so important?
Fuel cell and hydrogen technologies are both transformative and innovative. Our industry is capable of growing the economy, with the potential to employ hundreds of thousands of workers in a new green collar manufacturing economy. Hydrogen can enable our national security as it can be produced solely from domestic resources, limiting our reliance on foreign oil.
Fuel cells can and are being used in a wide range of market sectors, including stationary, transportation, and portable/off-grid applications. Finally, fuel cells and hydrogen technologies provide significant reductions in our environmental impact, helping protect our climate on a global scale, as well as support local public health.
Anything else you would like to share with the H2 View audience?
The fuel cell and hydrogen industry has grown tremendously since we first celebrated the first Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day five years ago. From a few dozen demonstration fleets of fuel cell vehicles, there are now thousands on the road around the world from multiple automakers. From a few thousand hydrogen forklifts, there are now over 28,000 fuel cell-powered material handling equipment operating in warehouses and distribution centres across the country.
In the US, our industry is now manufacturing and exporting more fuel cell systems than ever before and joined by a growing international market advancing into shipping, aviation, hydrogen for energy storage, and much more.
Hydrogen supporters and stakeholders around the world will be sharing their stories and pictures on social media, using the hashtags #FuelCellsNow and #HydrogenNOW.