BD needs hydrogen strategy

MELBOURNE, Apr 07 (UNB): Bangladesh needs to have a 'National Hydrogen Strategy' to explore clean hydrogen potential and enhance its relations with those countries which are advanced in this particular area, says a Bangladesh-origin scientist based in Australia.

"I think Bangladesh should immediately have a hydrogen strategy," principal scientist at CSIRO, an Australian Government agency responsible for scientific research, Dr Nawshad Haque told UNB at his office in Melbourne.

He said globally a good number of countries - at least over 90 countries - are working on hydrogen strategy and many of them like Australia have formal hydrogen strategy.

Dr Nawshad said this strategy depends on the country's energy demand; and export, import and use of the energy.

"We need to keep ourselves prepared to enhance collaboration and cooperation among engineers, universities, and industries. There could be a game changing potential for the hydrogen economy," he said.

Dr Nawshad laid emphasis on using science for "diplomacy and development" and said developing countries need exposure of technological research, development and demonstration on clean energy.

"Scientific cooperation can be an excellent tool for capacity and economic development. Australian scientists and experts can be consulted through diplomatic channels for 'National Hydrogen Strategy' development in Bangladesh," he said. Scientists, engineers, professionals and journalists from Bangladesh can be sent to Australia for learning about clean technologies and for adoption in the country, said the scientist.

With no carbon emissions and 3 to 10 times more energy density than fossil fuels, renewable hydrogen has the potential to end the fossil fuel dependency in the future. Yet today 96 per cent of hydrogen production is through fossil fuels and is not sustainable.

As hydrogen offers a low-emissions pathway with broad potential to help decarbonise the energy, transport and industrial sectors, Dr Nawshad said Bangladesh needs to enhance its capability and capacity by training people, looking at technologies and finding ways for technology transfer.