The transition to a new energy economy with an emphasis on hydrogen power was the focus of a two-day conference on “The Hydrogen-Powered Future: The Coming Transition to a New Energy Economy,” held April 28-29, 2023, at the University of Oklahoma. The event was hosted by the Carbon-Free H2 Energy Production and Storage, or CHEPS, and co-hosted by OU’s Institute for Resilient Environmental and Energy Systems. CHEPS is one of five Big Idea Challenge projects sponsored by the OU Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships to form convergent research teams working to solve global grand challenges.
Dimitrios Papavassiliou, director of the School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering and CHEPS principal investigator, was the conference organizer with co-organizers Katerina Tsetsura, Ph.D., associate professor of public relations and strategic communication in the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication; Firat Demir, Ph.D., professor of economics in the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences; Alberto Striolo, Ph.D., professor of chemical engineering in the Gallogly College of Engineering; as well as the CHEPS faculty group. Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, Ph.D., vice president for research and partnerships, provided the keynote address, “The Hydrogen-Powered Future.”
“Today we’re talking about energy, about hydrogen, but I also wanted to frame this conference around climate change. We’re going to have to produce an enormous amount of energy over the next 20-30 years, and we must accomplish this while also mitigating climate change,” Díaz de la Rubia said during his address. “Oklahoma is well positioned for this transition and that’s why the University of Oklahoma has been focusing on this space.”
A panel discussion on future and expected challenges of hydrogen power followed, moderated by Zev Trachtenberg, Ph.D., professor of philosophy in the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences. In addition to OU experts, panelists represented the National Science Foundation, Citizen Potawatomi Nation, the Texas Hydrogen Alliance and GTI Energy’s Hydrogen Technology Center.
The second day of the conference featured four sessions, each with five presentations and a panel discussion. The first session, “Hydrogen Research Activities at OU and the Region,” was moderated by Daniel Resasco, Ph.D., professor of chemical engineering in the Gallogly College of Engineering, and included Tim Filley, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Resilient Environmental and Energy Systems and professor in the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy, as well as faculty from Louisiana State University and the University of Wyoming.
“Over the last 14 months, a remarkable 35% of energy research at the University of Oklahoma has targeted hydrogen,” Filley said. “As part of a $21.5 billion commitment to accelerate clean energy technologies and achieve net zero emissions by 2050 by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, Oklahoma has joined forces with Louisiana and Arkansas to form a tri-state HALO Hydrogen Hub. By implementing a Community Benefits Plan, the HALO initiative will seek social buy-in and accountability, contribute to developing a 21st century workforce, focusing on creating welcoming and inclusive environments and addressing energy and environmental justice issues.”
Tana Fitzpatrick, J.D., associate vice president of Tribal relations and director of the Native Nations Center, moderated the second session. In addition to previous speakers and OU experts, representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture discussed social and economic issues associated with the energy transition.
“There is an undeniable need to transition to a less carbon intensive and more just energy system given increasing demands for energy and changing global climate,” Shane Connelly, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Community and Society Transformation, said during her presentation on energy justice. “Understanding and incorporating community perspectives is critical. We need to focus on all communities, but especially marginalized communities that have experienced, and will continue to experience, energy-related disparities. However, we also have a responsibility to protect the natural environment and minimize energy-related environmental threats.”
Striolo moderated the presentations and panel discussion for the third session, “Hydrogen Supply Management.” Speakers included representatives from the Energy Resources Science Center in the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Colorado School of Mines, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of British Columbia, as well as OU experts.
In the final session, presenters spoke about challenges, opportunities and the role of universities in the transition to a new energy economy. Tsetura moderated the discussion and presentations were given by John Antonio, Ph.D., interim dean of the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy, professor of computer science in the Gallogly College of Engineering and associate vice president for research and partnerships, as well as representatives from ChampionX, The Ohio State University, Oklahoma State University, and Teri Reed, Ph.D., director of the OU Polytechnic Institute.
“As we prepare for the fourth Industrial Revolution, education leaders need to be agile and have a growth mindset,” Reed said during her presentation on the future of education. “We must build in data, digital and human literacies on top of higher order mental skills like entrepreneurship and critical thinking. And we should do this through active and applied learning activities using real-world, connected project-based activities.”
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