Welcome to the 23rd World Hydrogen Energy Conference (WHEC2020) held from 5-9 July 2020 in Istanbul, Turkey.
Fossil fuels (i.e., petroleum, natural gas and coal), which meet most of the world’s energy demand today, are being depleted fast. Also, their combustion products are causing global problems, such as global warming, climate change, ozone layer depletion, acid rain, oxygen depletion and pollution, which pose a great danger for our environment and, eventually, for life on our planet. Many engineers and scientists agree that the solution to these global problems would be to replace the existing fossil fuel system with the Hydrogen Energy System. Hydrogen is the lightest, most efficient and cleanest fuel. Its use will produce no greenhouse gases, no ozone layer depleting chemicals, no acid rain ingredients, no oxygen depletion and no pollution.
Around the world, there is extensive Research and Development work on Hydrogen Energy. Internal combustion engines are being modified for hydrogen fuel. Many types of fuel cells – to convert hydrogen efficiently to electricity – are being developed. Hyundai, Toyota, Honda and Mercedes started selling hydrogen fueled cars. Many bus companies are selling hydrogen fueled buses. Siemens is selling hydrogen fuel cell powered submarines. Hydrogen fueled appliances based on catalytic combustion have been built. There is research and development work on hydrogen hydride refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Aircraft manufacturers are working on hydrogen fueled subsonic and supersonic transport planes.
Scientists and Engineers from many countries of the world will gather at the 23rd WHEC-2020 Conference to present their papers covering the recent advances in hydrogen energy and technologies. All these will no doubt speed up the conversion to a hydrogen economy eliminate global environmental problems, and provide the humankind with higher living standards. I congratulate the organizers of this conference and wish all the participants a very fruitful meeting and pleasant days in the historic capital of two world empires, Istanbul, Turkey.
T. Nejat Veziroğlu
Honorary Chair, 23rd WHEC-2020
Founding President, International Association for Hydrogen Energy