KU Affairs

First UAE-Japan Hydrogen Workshop to Jump Start Hydrogen Supply Chain Collaborations

December 29, 2019

Khalifa University hosted the first UAE-Japan Hydrogen Workshop on 15 December 2019 at Shangri-la Hotel, Abu Dhabi.

Organized by KU’s Research and Innovation Center on CO2 and H2 (RICH), in collaboration with Kyushu University and the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ), the event aims to launch and foster bilateral collaborations between the UAE and Japan in the area of hydrogen supply chain, link the academia with the industry, and define the background for industrial-academia collaborations.

The workshop was attended by Prof. Masakazu Toyoda, Chairman and CEO of IEEJ; Prof. Kazunari Sasaki, SVP of Kyushu University; Kazuma Shibata, Deputy General Manager for Marketing Planning, Toyota Motor Asia Pacific; Prof. Stephen Lyth, Associate Professor, Kyushu University; and Prof. Haiwen Li,
Associate Professor, Kyushu University. Representatives from UAE industry players such as Dr. Mohamed Shahtout, Continuous Movement Manager, Emirates Steel; Dr. Sgouris Sgouridis, Director of Research Programs, Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA); and Dr. M. Toqan, CEO, ATD also
attended the event.

Some of the topics discussed in the workshop were hydrogen utilization, the role of H2 in the sustainable economy, and hydrogen as a source of energy. Dr. Lourdes Vega, Director, RICH, also led a roundtable discussion on the ‘Present and Future of H2—Way Forward’.

A highlight of the workshop was that Toyota Motor Corporation brought the Toyota Mirai, the company’s fuel cell electric vehicle that is powered by hydrogen. Participants were able to see the vehicle up close and even test ride the car during the event.

Ara Cruz
News Writer
16 December 2019