A conference with a long view
The World Hydrogen Energy Conference has tracked the field from its earliest research questions to the commercial projects now taking shape. Each edition brings together scientists, engineers, policy makers and company leaders who are working on production, storage, distribution and use. The 23rd edition continued that habit of looking at the whole system rather than a single component.
WHEC is organised under the International Association for Hydrogen Energy and has been held in different host cities since 1976. That continuity gives the conference a rare quality: a new research result can be discussed in the same room as a demonstration project, a national strategy and a supply chain plan.
Why Istanbul
Istanbul sits on the Bosphorus, with one side in Europe and the other in Asia. The city has been a meeting point for centuries, and that character suits a conference built around exchange. It is reachable by direct flights from many parts of the world, and its historic centre, hotels and congress venues sit close together.
The host city also reflects the conference's interest in the wider energy transition. Turkey has been expanding research, innovation and technology programmes for hydrogen production, storage and use, and the national hydrogen community has been an active part of the international network.
What the edition set out to do
Put results in circulation
Give researchers a place to present work that is ready for scrutiny, from electrolysis and fuel cells to safety and systems modelling.
Build useful partnerships
Create room for universities, companies and public bodies to find shared projects rather than exchange business cards.
Discuss the whole system
Treat hydrogen as fuel, energy carrier and feedstock, and keep the policy, infrastructure and social questions in view.
The 23rd edition
WHEC 2022 was held in Istanbul from 26 to 30 June 2022. It was organised under the International Association for Hydrogen Energy, with the National Hydrogen Association of Turkey as the local host. The programme was hybrid, combining physical sessions with online participation.