International Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Activities

Today, many countries around the world are working to accelerate the development of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to improve their energy, environmental, and economic security. Building a safe, efficient, and economical worldwide infrastructure for hydrogen production, storage, transport, distribution, and use is a challenge that will require the best planning and expertise from around the world. International collaborations will help countries to more efficiently achieve national hydrogen and fuel cell technology program goals for both transportation systems and stationary applications.

Bilateral and multilateral hydrogen and fuel cell technology research and development (R&D) cooperation and collaboration will be a central tool in advancing hydrogen and fuel cells. Two key multilateral international partnerships that are facilitating cooperative R&D efforts are the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy and the International Energy Agency Technology Collaboration Programs.

International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy

The International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE), established in 2003, is an international inter-governmental partnership whose objective is to facilitate and accelerate the transition to clean and efficient energy and mobility systems using fuel cells and hydrogen technologies. IPHE serves as a mechanism to organize and implement effective, efficient, and focused international research, development, demonstration, and commercial utilization activities related to hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. It also provides a forum for sharing information on policies and technology status, as well as on initiatives, codes, and standards to accelerate the cost-effective transition to the use of fuel cells and hydrogen in the economy.

Visit the IPHE website to learn more about the partner countries and find updates, roadmaps, and links to agency websites for each country.

Also find publications from IPHE meetings and workshops.

International Energy Agency Technology Collaboration Programs

The International Energy Agency (IEA) was established in 1974, following the first oil crisis, for the purpose of facilitating collaborations for the economic development, energy security, environmental protection, and well-being of its members and of the world as a whole. For more than 20 years, the IEA has supported collaborative activities focused on the advancement of hydrogen technologies.

The United States has participated in several IEA Technology Collaboration Programs related to hydrogen and fuel cell technologies over the past two decades. A leading role is played by the Technology Collaboration Program on Advanced Fuel Cells through its eight active annexes.

Other Technology Collaboration Programs—on Hydrogen, Advanced Motor Fuels, Advanced Materials for Transportation, Bioenergy, the Greenhouse Gases R&D Program, and the Clean Coal Centre—provide contributions on specific topics important for launching hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.