23 October 2008

H2Expo confirmed as key innovation forum
Over 1400 conference delegates and trade fair visitors in Hamburg

7th International Conference and Trade Fair on Hydrogen
and Fuel Cell Technologies

H2Expo, 7th International Conference and Trade Fair on Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies, has again confirmed its position as a major international innovation forum. It attracted more than 1400 conference delegates and exhibition visitors, providing them with information on the latest developments and products at this two day event at CCH-Congress Center Hamburg. About 40% of conference participants were from abroad. Interest in the trade fair was also strong, with a wide range of application examples from some 50 exhibitors. The “H2 in Action” section featured a series of fuel cell powered vehicles, including the first presentation of a new mobile hydrogen fuelling station by Linde Gas.
“This has once more demonstrated the great importance of H2Expo as an information platform for this forward-looking industry,” said Bernd Aufderheide, CEO of Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH. “H2Expo was an excellent opportunity to present flagship projects to an expert audience in this international context. Hamburg is a leader in this field.” He added that the concept of holding the event at two-year intervals was working well. “We are very pleased with the rise in exhibitor and visitor numbers.”
“H2Expo in Hamburg plays a very significant role in the development and transfer of hydrogen and fuel cell technology,” said Dr. Subhash Singhal of Pacific Northwest Laboratory, USA. Together with Professor Wolfgang Winkler of the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, he was chairing the conference, which provided a forum for exchange on experience and results between experts from Europe, Asia and the US. Professor Winkler emphasised that the conference and trade fair were particularly important for Hamburg as one of the leading centres of the maritime and aviation industries, “in particular for economic development”. He added that the trade fair and conference acted as an interface between research organisations and international corporations.
H2Expo was described as “one of Europe’s most important technical and scientific events in hydrogen technology” by Dr.-Ing. Gerd Würsig of the sponsoring organisation Germanischer Lloyd. He highlighted in particular the diversity of exhibitors, and their high quality. And he also mentioned the high-ranking delegates at the symposium and the various workshops.
“Hamburg is indispensable for us,” said Werner Hoyer of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR). He mentioned DLR’s close cooperation with Deutsche Airbus GmbH, for which DLR was developing a fuel cell for emergency power supply on board the Airbus A320, and hence the vital role of Hamburg and H2Expo. “And we will be building on our cooperation with Airbus,” he added. Hans-Jürgen Heinrich of Airbus Deutschland said “We have had a lot of discussions with other users interested in fuel cell system applications in maritime and aviation projects”. These are examples of the outstanding opportunities at H2Expo for generating synergies in the use of fuel cell technologies and applying them in practice.
“Hamburg is now the hydrogen hotspot in Germany,” said Dr. Joachim Kroemer of Proton Motor. Proton presented their fuel cell powered commercial vehicle EcoCarrier HY3, developed in cooperation with Wilhelm Karmann GmbH. “We had very good response to our innovative product,” he said.
“H2Expo is an important forum for exchange between suppliers and users,” said Keno Leites of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems AG. He felt the conference had a strong international position, enabling vital exchanges on technical innovations.
“I am surprised to see so many participants from abroad here at H2Expo,” said Dr. Claus Fischer of Heliocentris Energiesysteme GmbH, reporting good to very good visitor figures at his company’s stand.
Huau-Ruei Shiu of the Industrial Technology Research Institute from Taiwan stressed the importance of exchanges on the different scientific approaches in Asia and Europe, highlighting the important role played by H2Expo in this respect.
Christian Tuchel of Linde AG noted the great interest shown by trade visitors in the joint stand of the Hamburg Initiative for Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technology. He stressed the importance of H2Expo in demonstrating the good cooperation between government, research and users. “One of the major functions of this fair is to attract public attention to current and future projects in this industry.”
The Zemships conference (Zero Emission Ships) was held for the first time in the framework of H2Expo, and met with very good response, according to conference chairman Heinrich Klingenberg, CEO hySOLUTIONS. He said that H2Expo had given visitors an opportunity to experience technical applications in fuel cell technologies in practice, “for example by excursions on the world’s first fuel-cell powered passenger vessel.” The important role of Hamburg for development and application of hydrogen and fuel cell technology was emphasised by Marieke Reijalt, Executive Director of the European Hydrogen Association, at the Zemships Conference. “Hamburg is setting an example, with a whole range of applications in this sector. That is important for the political work at European level.”

(last Update: 23.10.08)