CERC Research Seminar – February 2021

CERC Research Seminar – February 2021

CERC Seminar

The Path and Opportunities Toward Hydrogen Energy Development

February 22, 2021 @ 3:00 PM

Abstract

The hydrogen development faces four major challenges, or requires “Four Miracles”, as suggested by Dr. Steven Chu (the former Secretary of US DOE): (1) the hydrogen production, (2) the hydrogen storage and delivery, (3) the fuel cell durability and cost, and (4) the hydrogen distribution infrastructure. In this talk, I first focus on the breakthrough technology development that resolves the second and the four challenges. The technology is to store hydrogen at ambient conditions with high gravimetric and volumetric densities based on the concept of the liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC). This technology has been demonstrated on board the mobile applications and is in the process of commercialization. I believe this LOHC technology will replace the existing compressed hydrogen storage technology, to enable the safe and efficient hydrogen storage and to make the hydrogen economy a reality.

Next, I present some technology advancements that address the first and the third challenges. I describe a thermal select development that turns the municipal waste, an environment hazard, into the hydrogen, a clean source of energy. Then I describe some developments in next generation fuel cells and hydrogen internal combustion engine. This presentation is non-technical. In addition to primary technology developments, I will present some applications and business developments. Most of the developments I have been involved with are in China and Europe, but I think there are huge opportunities for Canada.

Biography

Hong Chen is Professor in Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF) at Shanghai Jiaotong University, where he served as the deputy dean and the founding director of DBA program. Before joining SAIF, he was an Alumni Professor in Supply Chain Management in Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia. He was one of the founding faculty members and associate dean at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business. He received his B.S. degree from Xi’an Jiaotong University, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Stanford University.

In the last few years, Dr. Chen’s research interests are in development, market and finance of clean energy, particular hydrogen energy. He has been a senior advisor for Hynertech, a hydrogen startup company. He is on the Board of Yancon Group Co, a Fortune 500 energy company. His research interests also include applied probability, operations and supply chain management, healthcare policy and management, real estate and corporate finance. He has consulted and written many teaching cases on some of the best-known companies in China, and has taught executive programs at almost all the top business schools in China.