Hydrogen was first discovered in 1766, and discussions about its use as an energy carrier for various applications have spanned over 150 years. However, interest in hydrogen has grown significantly in recent years after the Paris Climate Agreement and the Russian-Ukrainian war. Today, many major economies have released national hydrogen strategies, with a strong emphasis on green hydrogen and its role in decarbonizing various sectors.
Despite this interest, many green hydrogen projects have been delayed or cancelled. Thus, important questions are raised about the gap between ambition and reality. This presentation examines the fundamentals of hydrogen, explores the global hydrogen policy landscape, and investigates the technological, economic, and governance challenges of scaling up green hydrogen. A special focus will be placed on green ammonia as a promising early application.
The talk will conclude by outlining the need for a comprehensive governance framework and offering key policy takeaways.
About the SpeakerÂ
Dr. Munur S. Herdem is a Fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs (BSIA), Adjunct Faculty Member in Management Science and Engineering at the University of Waterloo, and is leading the development of the forthcoming Energy Technologies Governance Laboratory.
Dr. Herdem earned his Master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo, where he focused his research on diverse energy conversion technologies, including coal gasification, fuel cells, and fuel reforming. He further developed his expertise during his postdoctoral studies at the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE), concentrating on sustainable energy systems. Currently, his research integrates technology, physical sciences, policy, and governance to address critical issues in the clean energy transition, energy security, and access to affordable energy.
