The International Energy Agency (IEA) Hydrogen Implementing Agreement (HIA) is pleased to announce the accession of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the IEA HIA (www.ieahia.org), the largest and longest lived global collaboration in hydrogen research, development and demonstration (R,D&D). As an IEA HIA member, China may now participate in any of the diverse research and analysis tasks which, together with outreach activities, comprise the IEA HIA's innovation portfolio. Initially, China has elected to participate in IEA HIA Task 32 – Hydrogen-Based Energy Storage. Two institutions, the Dalian Institute for Chemical Physics (DICP) of Dalian and the General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals (GRINM) of Beijing, will represent China on the IEA HIA Executive Committee.

DICP, an affiliate of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was founded in 1949. GRINM, China's largest R&D body in the field of nonferrous metals, was founded in 1952. Both institutions have internationally recognized competencies in storage research. In cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of the People's Republic of China, DICP and GRINM will serve as the national channel for other PRC institutions and experts interested in IEA HIA participation.

In welcoming China as a new member, IEA HIA Chairman Stefan Oberholzer (Swiss Federal Office of Energy), emphasized the crucial role that this vast and populous nation can play in advancing clean energy and reducing emissions. "According to the IEA, China accounted for 40% of global renewable capacity growth in 2014. Given the sheer magnitude of China's energy needs, her interest in the research and application of hydrogen can have a profound impact not only on fostering use of hydrogen and renewable energy, but also on mitigating climate change."

About the IEA HIA

The IEA HIA, an IEA Technology Collaboration Programme, is a treaty-based organization working to accelerate hydrogen implementation and widespread utilization on a global basis through R,D&D cooperation and information exchange. In addition to new member China, IEA HIA membership includes 21 countries and the Commission of the European Union, as well as private sector companies, a German public-private partnership dedicated to hydrogen and fuel cells, and an international non-profit association. For more information about the IEA HIA, a premier global resource for technical expertise in hydrogen R,D&D, visit www.ieahia.org. (PR Newswire)