A landmark conference that aims to accelerate Australia’s hydrogen development to combat climate change has taken place in Canberra.

The inaugural Australian Hydrogen Research Conference (AHRC 2023), managed by Arinex, was held at the Australian National University (ANU) from 8-10 February this year.

AHRC 2023 co-Chair, Professor Ken Baldwin from ANU, said the conference generated a pathway towards a sustainable future based on green hydrogen.

“In order to accelerate the development and the creation of hydrogen applications such as the production of green steel, an enormous amount of research will be needed across a range of disciplines from science and technology, to human and social sciences,” Professor Baldwin said.

“By comparison, the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry took many decades to develop – but climate change doesn’t allow the world that timescale for the hydrogen economy to be realised.”

AHRC 2023 attracted more than 330 researchers from universities, industry and government agencies to meet with key stakeholders to examine all aspects of hydrogen research. The conference was opened by the Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Jenny McAllister, and the first plenary presentation was held by Dr Alan Finkel AC, former Australian Chief Scientist and architect of the National Hydrogen Strategy.

Arinex former Managing Director, Nicole Walker said the conference supported vital research to help accelerate Australia’s net zero ambitions.

Arinex became the first Australian carbon-neutral certified event management company in 2022 and has helped deliver several conferences within the environmental space, including the upcoming carbon-neutral certified WorldPride Human Rights Conference 2023.

“Not only are the discussions at AHRC 2023 enormously important for our environment, they will also help support and create jobs in the hydrogen industry,” Ms Walker said.

“As an organisation with a strong focus on a sustainable future, we see this topic as pivotal and we are so pleased to play a role in facilitating the work of these bright minds.”