The 18Th World Hydrogen Energy Conference took place In Essen (North Rhein Westphalia - Germany), from may 16 to 21, 2010.

This annual event was supported by the International Association for Hydrogen Energy (IAHE) and the NRW State and its Energy Agency.

The objective of WHEC 2010 was to provide a comprehensive platform for the exchange of scientific information and to promote hydrogen as a clean energy source and fuel cells as clean energy converters.

In that purpose, the Competitive Cluster Tenerrdis, base d in Grenoble – France- in partnership with two others Competitive French Cluster in Renewables Energies (Capenergies et S2E2), organized a professional mission.
These three French Hydrogen and Fuel Cell clusters combine the whole value chain of French R&D skills in that field, with cutting-edge companies, advanced-research centres and world-leading educational institutions, and have much to offer to potential partners and investors. 

The Tenerrdis delegation involved some of the prominent firms of Rhône Alpes Region :

• AXAN (Air Liquide Subsidiary) : propose global level complete packaged systems for the generation of energy from Fuel Cells powered by hydrogen. www.axane.net/gb/corporate/axane.html
• Helion : a major industrialist specialized in hydrogen energy (http://www.helion-hydrogen.com/)
• Adixen : Member of Alcatel Group, Alcatel Vacuum Technology, an acknowledged world leader in vacuum solutions with an hydrogen energy transportation’s branch - www.adixen.fr/
• Alphea Hydrogene : Technicoeconomical survey, Studies/expertise, projects, consultancy in H2/FC field - www.alphea.com
• Solvay : activity chemicals, Plastics  - www.solvay.com/innovatino/newbusinessdev/sustainablenergies/
• MacPhy : industrializes and commercializes massive stationary hydrogen storage systems http://www.mcphy.com/
• INERIS : Processes & Energy – Clean and Safe; Accidental Risks Division- activity: French public research body under the aegis of the French Ministry for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Spatial Planning -www.ineris.fr

This French task force is aimed at meeting key actors of the hydrogen sector (clusters, industry companies, academic or private researchers).

WHEC was an excellent opportunity to have an overview of cutting edge technologies in Fuel Cells, automotive applications, H2 storage, CHP...and to get top quality references for both Piedmont and Rhone Alps Region:

• to provide benchmarking items to strengthen their common cooperation strategy
• to talk over to the international community about R&D projects
• to organize meetings with the main German players

WHEC was therefore an opportunity to present the frame of the European PITER project and to strengthen the awareness of the players of this FP7 program.