CHFC Summit Blog Post
Finding Our Place at the California Hydrogen Fuel Cell Summit
Keith Spitznagel, Technical Sales Director
When I attended this year’s California Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Summit, I didn’t know what to expect. GenCell had only formally joined the California Hydrogen Business Council a week before, so this was my first Summit meeting. It looked great on paper—but would it deliver?
I am happy to say that the Summit exceeded my expectations. With over 250 attendees from government and regulatory agencies, universities, and businesses from California, around the country and even from around the world, you couldn’t find a better place to network or get a feel for the promise of the hydrogen fuel cells. I spent two very productive days learning about new opportunities, trading business cards, and discussing how the GenCell G5 long-duration UPS can help solve backup energy problems.
Source: CHBC & dima Communications.
I was especially encouraged by the presentation about the current status of the fuel cell market in California. Anyone who knows the US market for innovative technologies, knows that California always leads the rest of the country. The Summit presentations and panels were incredibly informative and covered new and current attention-receiving developments and emerging markets.
Jeff Serfass, the Executive Director of the CHBC, gave me an unexpected opportunity to address the Summit and I gave a brief overview of GenCell and the GenCell products. Although our new animated video hadn’t been realized—I must have done a decent job since more than a few attendees came up to me and asked for additional information.
I also had a chance to meet Jeff Reed, the Chair of the CHBC Board of Directors. Jeff is the Sempra Energy Director of Business Strategy and Advanced Technology and he was very involved with GenCell’s large sale of GenCell G5rx utility backup power solutions to Sempra’s San Diego Gas and Electric utility. The Summit was a great environment to meet with new utility prospects who are also looking for a green energy solution with seismic compliance.
California’s political leadership is pushing hard to expand the role fuel cells and hydrogen can play in the state’s energy profile. Challenges remain in building the necessary hydrogen infrastructure, financing projects and building sustainable supply chains. Work has already started to overcome regulatory and permitting barriers for energy and we’re seeing progress in educating policy makers and the public.
As the CHBC says, “Hydrogen means business in California.” GenCell is a great fit with the members of the CHBC and I look forward to helping promote hydrogen and fuel cells in California.
