According to PATH (Partnership for Advancing the Transition to Hydrogen) the worldwide hydrogen and fuel cell industry includes over 20 countries and is worth at least $5.6 billion a year. In addition, the hydrogen and fuel cell industry current accounts for over 40,000 jobs worldwide.
By the year 2020, this same industry is expected to add over 660,000 new jobs with worldwide revenues of over $38 billion.
According to PATH, “Among other findings, the report concluded that both developed and developing countries are actively transitioning to using fuel cells and hydrogen. Developed countries have implemented hydrogen and fuel cell technology mostly as a way to diminish their reliance on fossil fuel imports for transportation, stationary and portable power. Developing countries, on the other hand, are turning to hydrogen and fuel cells as a source of clean, quiet and reliable power, which in turn can grow GDP and allow for economic growth.”
Since parts of the hydrogen and fuel cell industry are still considered emerging technologies it’s important that standards and practices be put in place to aid this commercial growth. ASTM is an international organization that is doing just this.
According to Jacquelyn Birdsall who chairs ASTM’s subcommittee D03.14, “Since 2008, D03.14, with the support of the U.S. Department of Energy, has approved nine ASTM methods to support the commercialization of hydrogen as a vehicle fuel. These standards were identified by the industry as essential to commercialization and will be part of international and national hydrogen quality codes and standards.”
So even though the world economy has been in an economic downturn for the past 3 years, hydrogen and fuel cell technology has continued to expand. If you happen to be looking for a job in this growing industry, here is one resource and here is a second resource for starting or continuing your career.
And of course, here is one more resource indeed.
For collaboration has anyone made progress on high energy dry powdered algae to produce DIRECT hydrogen to electricity via
fuel cell ?
Howard stern
Sugar Land, Tx
sternh@windstream.net