Balance of Power - A Global Game for Hydrogen (International Markets and Distribution)

Prof. Dr. Christopher Hebling studied Physics and worked for like ten years in the field of Silicon Photovoltaics before he became Director of the Hydrogen Technologies Division at ISE with a staff of about 150 scientists, engineers, and students today. Among his manyfold affiliations he is the spokesperson of the Fraunhofer Hydrogen Network (36 institutes) and Board Member of the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence 'Integrated Energy Systems'. Next to his close involvement in national hydrogen strategy developments he is member of the Expert committee for the Transformation of the Automobile Industry of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. Furthermore, he is the Co-Chair of the German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association, and he is involved in international stakeholder processes and advisory boards of international hydrogen and fuel cell conferences. He published more than 150 journal and conference papers and is Honorary Professor at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. The Hydrogen Technologies Division conducts research in low temperature polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolysis and fuel cell systems, as well as in thermochemical catalysis and process developments of hydrogen to synthetic fuels and chemicals (PtX).

Julia Seitz completed her master's degree in environmental sciences with focus on climate-change-impacts at the University of Freiburg, Germany. After graduation, she worked at the Nature Conservation Center and at a climate protection association in Freiburg. At Fraunhofer ISE, she began working in the division of hydrogen technologies in 2020. In the divison, about 150 scientists, engineers and students conduct research in low temperature polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolysis and fuel cell systems, as well as in thermochemical processing of hydrogen for the production of synthetic fuels and chemicals. Julia Seitz is the personal assistant and research associate to the division director Prof. Christopher Hebling. She advises and supports him in all matters, but also represents his topics and helps with scientific work.

Frank Wouters has been leading renewable energy projects, transactions, and technology development for more than 30 years and played a lead role in the development of renewable energy projects valued at over $5 billion. He served as Deputy Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) from 2012 to 2014. Mr. Wouters has served on the board of energy companies in Europe, Asia, the US and Africa and currently serves as: - Senior Vice President Energy Transition at Reliance Industries, - Director of the EU GCC Clean Energy Technology Network, a platform that fosters partnerships between Europe and the Gulf, - Fellow, Payne Institute, Colorado School of Mines, - Chairman of the MENA Hydrogen Alliance, - Chairman of the Dii Advisory Board, - Non-Executive Board Director of Gore Street Capital, London, and - Non-Executive Board Director of Vast Solar in Australia. Frank has authored several books on renewable energy and green hydrogen and lives in Abu Dhabi. He has a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Delft University.

Markus Vlasits started as a consultant at McKinsey & Company in Germany and has been active in the solar PV industry for 17 years in several executive positions. In 2007-2009, he was Production Manager of crystallization and wafering at Q.Cells SE, Thalheim, Germany, where he reached a vice-presidential role in Sales Operations. Moving to Brazil in 2013, he started as CEO of Yingli Green Energy do Brasil. He teamed up with fellow executives to open Faro Energy, an investment company focusing on PV generation projects for commercial concerns, and was its Sales Director until 2018. In 2019, he was an independent consultant and helped start ABSOLAR's Energy Storage Workgroup. In 2020, founded NewCharge, an engineering company focused on energy storage projects for commercial clients in Brazil. He is also active as acts as a technical consultant and advisor for projects related to energy storage. In August 2023, he was elected president of board of directors of the Brazilian Association for Energy Storage Solutions (ABSAE). Markus also organizes energy storage events and conferences, and recently co-organized an energy storage conference panel for Intersolar South America 2021 in partnership with Solar Promotion.

Eva Meschede is advising companies on support opportunities within the BMWK-funded International Hydrogen Ramp-Up Program (H2Uppp) for GIZ since May 2022. Previously, she worked for more than 5 years in the private sector and in research on energy and hydrogen topics. She holds a Master's degree in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.