QEERI Holds International Workshop On Hydrogen Energy

Doha, June 13 (QNA) - Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) affiliated with Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), held an international workshop entitled "Clean Hydrogen - Qatars Role in a Carbon-Free World", with the support of the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) and in partnership with the Al Attiyah Foundation.
The second edition of this workshop, which comes after the workshop held by the Institute during the year 2020 entitled "The Opportunities Provided by Hydrogen Energy for the State of Qatar", brought together national stakeholders and international experts to further discuss the latest global developments in policies related to the hydrogen energy industry closely related to the State of Qatar.
In 2021, the State of Qatar updated its nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, to encompass the first quantitative goal to reduce carbon emissions. It also established the Net Zero Emissions Producing Countries Forum in cooperation with the United States of America, Canada, Norway and Saudi Arabia.
In this context, clean hydrogen has the potentiality to substantially help Qatar in reducing its domestic emissions in addition to minimizing the carbon footprint of the fuels and commodities it exports.
The workshop underscored the importance of developing clear and effective national strategies that are integrated with international cooperation efforts aimed at removing the obstacles imposed by technology and markets to the opportunities offered by hydrogen energy.
The sessions focused on the international developments of hydrogen, its anticipated future trade and other strategies of GCC, and the technology of clean hydrogen production and transportation most relevant to the State of Qatar.
The Attendees of the event included a broad range of international experts working at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), The Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, Ludwig Systems Engineering, Worley Engineering services company, Fraunhofer Science Company, MENA Hydrogen Alliance, and the Mitsubishi Research Institute (MRI), Saipem Corporation, Equinor Corporation, Chiyoda Construction engineering company, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
Representatives from oil and gas companies, other companies operating in Qatar, and the research community participated in the discussions during the workshop.
HE the Joint Advisory Board at Texas A&M University at Qatar, Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada said after attending the event, that this workshop had successfully laid the foundation for hosting such events regularly and on a larger scale in the future to further discuss aspects related to the promising hydrogen energy industry in the state of Qatar.
Additionally, Research director of ExxonMobil Research Qatar (EMRQ), Dr Jayanth Balasubramanian said that the workshop that was hosted by (QEERI) represented a vital step through fostering the national dialogue about the Hydrogen role in a transition to clean energy means utilization. The workshop was part of QEERI's commitment, as a national research institute, to supporting the state of Qatar in achieving its strategic goals in energy, environment and climate change fields.
The Executive Director of QEERI Dr. Marc Vermeersch stated that Hydrogen will be an important energy carrier in a carbon-neutral energy system and in helping reduce emissions in other key sectors, emphasizing that international cooperation is a vital component of any comprehensive strategy to increase hydrogen supply and demand, in addition to deploying the required technology.
" The workshop offered a valuable opportunity to combine between the technical viewpoints and practical dialogue among the national and global parties" Vermeersch added.
He anticipated that (QEERI) will participate in conducting researches and boosting the invented evolution to support the state of Qatar in strengthening its emerging hydrogen energy system.
QEERI is committed to assisting the state of Qatar in diversifying the energy resources in the country, in addition to optimizing research, development and innovation programs in the field of sustainability via its various centers and research initiatives to fulfil market requirements. (QNA)