About this event

As COP26 Presidency, the UK is working with all parties to inspire ambitious climate action. The UK was the first world leader to establish an ambitious 2050 net-zero carbon target. Such framework will be unachievable without embracing hydrogen (H2) as a tool to decarbonise a range of sectors while also helping tackle various critical energy challenges.

The UK and Canada are global leaders in supporting the development and application of H2 and our two governments already work closely together, forging a shared understanding of the global implications of H2. This is therefore the perfect time to build on the UK-Canada partnership in the run up to COP26 to highlight and strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration around climate change and net-zero.

The British High Commission in Canada and its partners are convening a five-day programme to explore the Canadian and British H2 ecosystems. This virtual UK-Canada Hydrogen Week aims to bring a community together at the critical intersection of decarbonisation and prosperity to steer and strengthen bilateral collaboration, create a colearning environment beneficial to all parties and sensitise a wider audience to the opportunities that hydrogen presents to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

In particular, we are looking at:

• Better understanding and knowledge of both H2 ecosystems;
• Increasing awareness of the H2 strategies and capabilities; and
• Strengthening or fostering partnerships between the UK and Canada

During these virtual sessions, you will be able to submit questions, comments and insights in real time and take advantage of the networking opportunities this activity may offer you.

• Click here to view the full programme.

We look forward to your participation.

Programme

The times indicated correspond to the Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) zone (BST-5).

October 18 | 10:45 AM to 1.15 PM | : Hydrogen Strategies (open webinar)

Moderator: Sam Jeremy, Director Atlantic Canada Head Global Issues Team & SIN

10:45 AM – 11:00 AM Opening remarks:

• David Reed, Deputy British High Commissioner to Canada
• Michel Dumoulin, Vice-President, Engineering at National Research Council of Canada

11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

• Richard North, International Hydrogen Strategy. Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
• Stuart McKay, Head of Hydrogen Policy Scottish Government
• John Howells, Director for Climate Change and Planning Government of Wales

11:45 AM – 12:00 PM Health Break

12:15 PM – 1:00 PM

• Aaron Hoskin, Senior Manager, Natural Resources Canada
• Julie Poulin, Director, Direction du développement des énergies renouvelables, Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles du Québec
• Barbra Korol, Executive Director at Ministry of Energy, Government of Alberta
• Guy Gensey, British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation
• Tom North, Director, Climate Change Programs and Partnerships Branch, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
• Alisdair McLean, Executive Director, Offshore Energy Research Association

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM Wrap up

October 19 | 11:00 AM to 1.15 PM | : Industry-led Activities, Transportation Systems (open webinar)

Moderator: Sylvain Cofsky, CEO Innovitech

11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

• Josipa Petrunić, President and CEO Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium.
• Laurent Dagenais, Technical Project Manager, Dana Commercial Vehicle Drive and Motion Systems.
• Jessica Verhagen, CEO Hydra Energy.
• Nicolas Pocard, Vice President Marketing & Strategic Partnerships, Ballard Power Systems Inc.
• Gordon Lovegrove, Departmental Science Advisor at Transport Canada and Infrastructure Canada.

11:45 AM – 12:00 PM Health Break

12:15 PM – 1:00 PM

• Cristina Garcia-Duffy, Fly Zero Initiative, UK Aerospace Technology Institute.
• Richard Kemp-Harper, Strategy Director, Arcola Energy.
• David Hodgson, CEO TFP Hydrogen.
• James Walker, Hydrogen Development Manager. The European Marine Energy Centre.
• Simon Williams, Head of Drivetrain Integration & Mechanical Systems, Artemis Technologies Ltd.
• Gordon McIntosh, Chairman of Aberdeen International Associates Ltd.

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM Wrap up

October 20 | 11:00 AM to 1.15 PM | : Hydrogen Clusters (open webinar)

Moderator: Mark Kirby President and CEO, Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association

11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

• David Layzell, Energy Systems Architect at the Transition Accelerator, Edmonton Region Hydrogen Hub.
• Simon Barnabé, Hydrogen Research Institute, UQTR, and Bécancour Innovation Zone and Svetlana Solomykina, Executive Director, Société du parc industriel et portuaire de Bécancour.
• Geneviève Brisson, Senior Director, Global Government Affairs ENERKEM Inc. and Alex Miles, Project Lead ENERKEM Inc. (UK), Varennes Innovation HUB

11:45 AM – 12:00 PM Health Break

12:15 PM – 1:00 PM

• Mike Whiteley, Head of Hydrogen Transport Hub, Department for Transport, Tee Valley Hydrogen Transport Hub
• Adele Lidderdale, Hydrogen Project Officer, Orkney Islands Council.
• Amer Gaffar, Director of the Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre, Greater Manchester’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Hub
• Jon Maddy, Director of the University of South Wales' Hydrogen Centre, South Wales Industrial Cluster
• Gordon McIntosh, Chairman of Aberdeen International Associates Ltd.

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM Wrap up

October 21 | 11:00 AM to 1.15 PM | : Research & Development (by invitation only)

Moderator: Mario Rivero-Huguet, Head of Science and Innovation Network in Montreal

11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

• Nigel Brandon, H2FCSupergen, Imperial College of London
• Paul Harrison, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Innovation and Engagement, University of South Wales
• John Irvin, Head of Energy and Materials, University of St Andrews
• Phil Hart, Director of Energy and Power, Cranfield University
• Juliana Early, Director of the Bamford Technology Centre, Deputy Head of School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen’s University Belfast

11:45 AM – 12:00 PM Health Break

12:15 PM – 1:00 PM

• François Girard, Technical Leader - Hydrogen & Fuel Cells, NRC
• Pierre Bénard, Director Hydrogen Research Institute, UQTR
• Viola Birss, Director for Calgary Advance Energy Storage and Conversion Research Technologies, University of Calgary
• Amit Kumar, Industrial Research Chair in Energy and Environmental Systems Engineering, University of Alberta
• Bala Venkatesh, Director of the Centre for Urban Energy, Ryerson University
• Walter Mérida, Director for the Clean Energy Research Centre, UBC
• Mita Dasog, Assistant Professor Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University

1:05 PM – 1:15 PM Wrap up

October 22 | 11:00 AM to 1.30 PM | : Funding and Collaboration Opportunities (by invitation only)

Moderator: Sonny Rathod, Head of Canada Partnerships, UKRI North America

This session will bring together funding agencies from both countries for the first time to have an initial dialogue on specific interests relating to Hydrogen. Given the broad nature of hydrogen, this diverse session will provide the opportunity to exchange information between agencies as well as reflect on discussions/outcomes from the UK-Canada hydrogen week. Expected objectives/outcomes:

• Provide introduction of Hydrogen leads within funding agencies in UK and Canada;
• Exchange of information on Hydrogen activity and areas of interests to build understanding and spark initial dialogue;
• Identify any mutual areas for potential collaboration through existing synergies or gaps in research and innovation; and
• Agencies to follow up on any relevant conversations to further establish dialogue and discuss any appropriate partnership opportunities.

11:00 AM – 11:10 AM Welcome and introductions

Sonny Rathod Head of Canada Partnerships, UKRI North America.

11:10 AM – 11:20 AM UK-Canada Hydrogen week overview

Mario Rivero-Huguet, Head of Science and Innovation, Montreal

• Key messages
• Outcomes and next steps
• Considerations for funding and collaboration

11:10 AM – 11:50 AM

• Roscoe Klinck, Senior Adivsor, International Relations, National Research Council Canada
• Geoffrey Ledingham, Program Advisor, IRAP International,National Research Council Canada
• Robert Therrien, Acting Director, Energy, Environment & Resources Division| NSERC
• Janice Bailey, Scientific Director, Fonds de Recherche du Québec en Nature et Technologies (FRQNT)
• Louise Poissant, Scientific Director, Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC)
• John Zhou, VP Clean Resources, Alberta Innovates

11:50 AM – 12:10 PM

• Ruqaiyah Patel, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
• Beth House, Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
• Tracey Dale, Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
• Isabella Panovic, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
• Harsh Pershad, InnovateUK
• Chris Low, Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI)

12:10 PM – 12:20 PM Health Break

12:20 PM – 12:50 PM Open discussion on collaboration

• Identify any mutual synergies
• Research and innovation gaps
• Opportunities between UK-Canada

12:50 PM – 1:00 PM Summary and wrap up

• Round up of main discussion points and outcomes
• Next steps and assignment of actions

1:15 PM – 1:30 PM Closing remarks

• David Reed, Deputy British High Commissioner to Canada

Click here to view the full programme.