The Hydrogen Innovation & Technology (HIT) Conference 2025, which was held on October 14鈥�16 in Houston, brought together global experts, researchers, and industry leaders to explore the latest developments and real-world applications and innovations of hydrogen technologies. The 2.5-day event, part of the ongoing alliance between the (AIChE) and the (IChemE), highlighted breakthroughs transforming the energy landscape with hydrogen and its derivates in industrial, transportation, and marine use. The conference was focused on practical lessons learnt, innovation opportunities, and a strong approach towards systems analysis
鈥淗ouston is the energy capital of the world and a shift towards a hydrogen-based economy will require changes that must be adopted by the industrial ecosystem in this region,鈥� said Debalina Sengupta, Chief Operating Officer of the Energy Transition Institute (ETI) at the 91视频 (UH). 鈥淭here is a strong push for increasing hydrogen use globally and Houston has the capability of bringing the world's leading licensors, technology providers, operators, and parts of the entire value system to make this happen. That was the impetus for us to bring world leaders together and have this conversation here for the Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Conference.鈥�
Dr. Sengupta was a key member of the steering committee that brought the conference to Houston, which also included David Dankworth from ExxonMobil, Devinder Mahajan from I-GIT, Stony Brook University, Hanna Breunig from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, among others, who are key players from industry, academia, and the National Labs.
Sengupta delivered the welcome address on the opening day and introduced Brett Perlman, CEO of , who set the tone for the conference with a keynote on the Houston region鈥檚 evolving hydrogen market. Perlman emphasized the Gulf Coast鈥檚 influential role in scaling hydrogen projects as part of the region鈥檚 emerging energy ecosystem.
Sunita Satyapal, Hydrogen leader and former US Department of Energy member, and Amgad Elgowainy, senior scientist and distinguished fellow at Argonne National Laboratory, delivered the keynotes on Days 2 and 3 and spoke about the legacy of hydrogen program development over the past 20 years, with a strong basis in science, technology, and policy analysis that make it a viable option for the holistic future of dispatchable energy.
The technical sessions covered a wide array of topics, such as 鈥淗ydrogen for Transportation,鈥� 鈥淓nd Use Applications,鈥� 鈥淪caling & Commercialization 鈥� Challenges and Insights,鈥� 鈥淗ydrogen Production Driven by CI, TEA, and LCA,鈥� 鈥淧rogress in Electrolysis Technologies,鈥� and 鈥淕lobal Value Chain and the Hydrogen Economy.鈥�
Engagement from UH included two talks by Dr. Joe Powell. He shared insights into the Houston Hydrogen Transportation Pilot program, its commercial scalability, production economics, and potential to drive the widespread adoption of hydrogen. Dr. Sengupta chaired two sessions and UH students also presented 4 posters on Day 2 of the event.
Other engaging presentations during the conference included the following:
- 鈥溾�楶roof of Concept鈥� to Full Furnace Application: A Hydrogen Burner Commercialization Journey鈥� presented by ExxonMobil
- 鈥淧ipeline Connected Hydrogen Refueling Stations鈥� presented by Linde
- 鈥淐lean Hydrogen: The Role of Carbon Intensity and Lifecycle Analysis鈥� presented by EcoEngineers
- 鈥淯nlocking Ultra-Low Carbon H2, Fuels & Chemicals via JMs ATR and GHR/ATR technologies鈥� presented by Johnson Matthey
- 鈥淗ydrogen-Fired SMR for Blue H2 Production: A Flexible and Economical Pathway to Decarbonization鈥� presented by Technip Energies
Along with information on updated industry trends, the conference also offered a platform
for professionals and academics to network and connect in shaping the future of hydrogen,
with attendees gaining firsthand exposure to cutting-edge ideas with real-world applications.