Expanding the Sourcebook for Hydrogen Applications
By Tara Willey, PATH Technical Coordinator

In early 2004, PATH and TISEC responded to a request for proposals from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to expand the Sourcebook for hydrogen Applications (Sourcebook).  PATH was awarded the grant, and began working with TISEC on the update in June 2004.

The Sourcebook is a resource for hydrogen and fuel cells codes and standards, activities, and other information and primarily focused on the United States and Canada, with some information on Japan.  It is available as an interactive CD that allows the user to follow links to navigate the program.  The Sourcebook includes a matrix of codes and standards for Canada, the U.S., Japan, as well as those that are internationally recognized.  TISEC was the leader in developing the Sourcebook, and has maintained and expanded the document since its original publication.

The scope of work for the APEC project includes documenting the codes and standards and demonstration projects pertinent to hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in the 21 APEC economies.  PATH and TISEC have enlisted the assistance of Andre Van Rest, an independent consultant formerly with the U.S. Department of Energy, who has extensive experience working with APEC economies.  Together, the team has begun collecting hydrogen and fuel cell information from the 21 APEC economies. 

To facilitate the data collection, and expose APEC representatives to the Sourcebook, PATH is holding two workshops.  The first workshop will focus on hydrogen and fuel cell codes and standards and demonstrations in APEC economies in the Western Hemisphere, and will be held in Cuernavaca, Mexico, on November 22, 2004.  PATH has invited approximately 40 representatives to attend, and expects to have 20-30 participants.  This workshop will also include information on non-APEC countries that have active hydrogen programs, such as Argentina and Brazil.  The second workshop will focus on Asia and be held in Hawaii, USA, in early 2005. 

The final draft of the Sourcebook will be completed in late 2005, and will include a separate section specifically for APEC countries, as well as an update of the existing information.  Once this effort has been completed, PATH will seek resources to expand the Sourcebook to include information on European hydrogen and fuel cell activities.   PATH’s goal is to shift the Sourcebook from CD format to an internet based program.  This would allow the Sourcebook to be updated more frequently, and accessed by password.   

As PATH and TISEC have worked on this project, the Sourcebook has begun to evolve into a more valuable resource.  It not only includes data, but is a reference guide with names, phone numbers, contact information, and websites where the user can find additional information.  Once it becomes internet-based, the Sourcebook will be even more valuable to its users, allowing them to directly access other websites, and providing the most up-to-date information.  To achieve these goals, PATH will continue its partnership with TISEC and APEC, but also explore working with other funding agencies, such as the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy.  Because of its membership, PATH is uniquely positioned to bring these diverse parties together for this purpose.