International Association for Hydrogen Safety

One person killed, two persons injured in a hydrogen explosion.  For details see http://beforeitsnews.com/news/81/572/Explosion_at_California_water_fuel_research_company_kills_inventor.html.

The IEA HIA Task 19 meeting successfully decided on its final products presentation and determined some first details of the possible future safety task. More than 20 experts from 6 countries and two representatives of the US DoE met in Washington to accomplish what was planned for an earlier meeting in Rome, which had to be cancelled due flight cancellations caused by the the vulcano ashes.

The next meeting will take place in September or October this year possibly in Rome. Soon after this meeting white papers, position papers and a final report will be issued. Dissemination via workshops is under preparation.

The new task will likely be extended by a broader participation including new countries and possibly industry partners.

Exploding hydrogen filled balloons injured several people in China during a celebration act. Friction between balloons is suspected to generate static electricity, providing then the ignition for the accident. For details see e.g. http://china.globaltimes.cn/society/2010-05/530686.html

In June 2010, the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) will launch its 2010 Call for project proposals. To help our members with the preparation of drafting proposals and search for the right consortium partners, NEW-IG and N.ERGHY will organise the 2nd FCH JU Brokerage Event, in Essen, Germany during the second day of the World Hydrogen Economy Council (WHEC). This 3-hour international event will take place on Monday, 17 May.

All details and application for participation on http://ec.europa.eu/research/fch/index_en.cfm?pg=call2010

The hydrogen-based ferry operated on the Alster, Hamburg, Germany caught fire during maintenance. The evil was not hydrogen but the batteries.  The fire fighters successfully protected the hydrogen storage.

A German newspaper article is available at http://newsticker.welt.de/?module=dpa&id=24665034.

The German National Innovation Program had it’s general assembly end of March. All presentations documenting the large program status  are available on the NOW website http://www.now-gmbh.de/index.php?id=280&L=1.

Sorry for the German flavour.

I’m happy to forward the received mail related the previous ICHS2 conference:

Dear Dr. Marco Carcassi

It is with great pleasure that I announce the publication of “2nd International Conferecne on Hydrogen Safety” special issue for International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. The issue is now available electronically on ScienceDirect at the following link.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03603199
The Table of Contents has also been attached for your convenience. You are welcome to forward it along to all interested parties.  After the paper issue has been printed, you will receive five complimentary copies of this special issue directly from our distribution center. At this time, if you have any comments about the manuscript submission and review process, your experience with EES, or your overall interaction with Elsevier in preparing this special issue, we would be very interested in hearing your feedback.

Marco Carcassi

The network welcomes the  new US American member PNL (http://www.pnl.gov). PNL is the 25 full member of IA HySafe an contributes with its highly valuable expertise, in particular in the field of industry level safety. The contact person is Steve Weiner.

On 6th of April 9 am at the GE aviation site in Hooksett N.H. USA a quarter of a  hydrogen tank (135 pounds) was incidentially released. The valve was opened during the installation. The staff in the vicinity was evacuated and the fire brigade managed to close the valve. That’s it.

For details see e.g. http://www.wmur.com/newsarchive/23066379/detail.html.

The US NHA just released an interesting market report on http://www.hydrogenassociation.org/marketreport/pdf/fullReport.pdf. Enjoy the reading.