Tim Karlsson is Executive Director of the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE) Secretariat, since 2015. The IPHE is an intergovernmental partnership of 21 countries and the European Commission, working to help facilitate the transition to clean and efficient energy, industry, and mobility systems using hydrogen and fuel cells technologies. Previously, Mr. Karlsson held various positions including Director of Emerging Technologies, and, Director of Environmental and Clean Energy Industries in the Department of Industry of Canada. He has worked on numerous policy issues related to energy and the environment including domestic and international climate change in part as a member of Canada’s delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The momentum is building to develop and deploy hydrogen and fuel cell technologies with different countries, regions, and companies announcing new hydrogen strategies, plans, developments and deployments almost every week.  For many countries, the policy driver is environmental goals, but for others it is energy security and resiliency, or economic opportunities.  To fulfil the potential for hydrogen in the energy transition ahead, the market rules must be clear including Intellectual Property rights and innovations but also, standards for installation and use and clear trade rules, two areas where the IPHE is focusing its work.