Northern Ireland

College forum to discuss how using hydrogen can reduce pollution

Paul McCormack, Belfast Met Innovation Manager with Dr Rory Monaghan, chairman of the Community Hydrogen Forum
Paul McCormack, Belfast Met Innovation Manager with Dr Rory Monaghan, chairman of the Community Hydrogen Forum Paul McCormack, Belfast Met Innovation Manager with Dr Rory Monaghan, chairman of the Community Hydrogen Forum

THE potential of hydrogen to reduce fossil fuel use in power generation, transport, homes and businesses is to be the focus of a major conference.

The launch of the Community Hydrogen Forum (CH2F) will take place at Dublin City University on October 21.

It will inform communities on how hydrogen can enable growth, attract investment and stimulate new cutting-edge industries, while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

The forum is a key deliverable of the Belfast Metropolitan College led GenComm renewable energy project.

The college is working in conjunction with nine universities and companies across Europe.

The use of hydrogen greatly reduces pollution.

GenComm Programme Manager Paul McCormack said the forum would mark a "momentous day for the use of hydrogen both here in Ireland and across Europe".

"The CH2F will be a resource for communities, industry and government who want to explore the use of hydrogen in the energy transition," he said.

"The community hydrogen forum helps move us towards a hydrogen economy and a new cleaner energy system for all of Europe across many applications including energy storage, transport and power generation."

Ian Williamson, President of the European Hydrogen Association, added: "The community hydrogen forum is designed to increase engagement with hydrogen. It will help to create a market pull for the new, clean technologies which we have developed in the last 20 years. No matter what the scale, now everyone can understand how to get involved in helping shape a sustainable hydrogen future for themselves."