AIE Hydrogen Division

 

Mission

 

• To promote the responsible development of hydrogen energy

 

Objectives

 

• To offer information and provide a focal point pertaining to hydrogen technology
• To promote inter-disciplinary discussion of hydrogen technology and research
• To assist in the promotion of Australian hydrogen projects and studies undertaken
• To demonstrate hydrogen technology to the Australian community
• To encourage hydrogen energy studies in educational curricula

 

Background

 

In 2003 the Commonwealth Department of Industry Tourism and Resources (DITR) ran a conference on hydrogen in Brooke and published the first Australian National Hydrogen Study.  Following the interest generated by these events, several engineers and scientists, led by Dr Andreas Luzzzi and Luigi Bonadio sought to bring together those with a serious interest in hydrogen in Australia. The result was the formation of the AIE Hydrogen Division. 

 

Since its formation, the Hydrogen Division has run seminars and workshops in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney to promote interest in hydrogen technology in Australia.  In 2004 the division won the bid to host the World Hydrogen Energy Conference in Australia in 2008.  Following this success, a local committee was set up by Dr Andrew Dicks of the University of Queensland and Luigi Bonadio, to organise the event on behalf of the AIE and the International Association of Hydrogen Energy. Brisbane was selected as the host city and engagement from Industry, Government and Academia was sought.  Since the organisation of this event is a major undertaking for the Hydrogen Division, all other activities have been on hold for the past 18 months. 

 

Information on the World Hydrogen Energy Conference 2008 (WHEC2008) can be found at the website www.whec2008.com.

 

In 2004, the CSIRO undertook to prepare an Activity Report for the Commonwealth Department of Industry Tourism and Resources. This sought to summarise in one document the breadth of Research and Development in this area throghtout Australia.  In 2006 the CSIRO, through its Energy Transformed Flagship, set up a National Hydrogen Materials Alliance,  This cluster of 12 university research groups and public research organisations has been established to provide a sense of community for those involved in hydrogen-related research and provides a focus for leading edge research in this area. In 2007 the DITR commissioned a series of energy technology roadmaps. One of these is concerned with hydrogen, and seeks to provide a vision for the development of hydrogen energy technology in Australia.

 

Throughout all of these activities, members of the AIE Hydrogen Division continue to play a leading role in the promotion of hydrogen in Australia