Achieving net zero emissions by 2050 is one of the biggest challenges facing countries around the world.  A Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) delegation led by NEA Director General William D. Magwood, IV recently participated in the Global Clean Energy Action Forum (GCEAF),  This is a joint meeting of the 13th Clean Energy Ministerial Conference (CEM13) and the 7th Mission Innovation Ministerial Conference in Pittsburgh, USA.  

The Global Clean Energy Action Forum brings together 6,000 minister-level experts from 30 countries to bring new ideas and solutions to accelerate the use of clean energy, promote international energy security, boost economic growth and combat climate change.  

The conference attracted a number of clean energy leaders, including philanthropist and Breakthrough Energy founder Bill Gates, US presidential climate envoy John Kerry, US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and others.  

NEA's mission at the Global Energy Congress focuses on the launch of two new publications on the role of nuclear power in the hydrogen economy and its potential contribution to the goal of decarbonization.  

Hydrogen, the most common element in the universe, is expected to play an important role in the global energy equation, particularly in supporting decarbonisation strategies in other hard-to-reduce sectors such as industry and transport.  At present, however, almost all hydrogen energy is produced using fossil fuels. 

This week, NEA Director General William D. Magwood, IV, and Nuclear Analyst Dr. Michel Berthelemy had the opportunity to share the key findings of NEA's new report, "The Role of Nuclear Power in the Hydrogen Economy: Cost and Competitiveness."  This report examines the role that nuclear hydrogen can play in short -, medium - and long-term decarbonization strategies.  The discussion also highlighted hydrogen production from nuclear power as an economically competitive solution.  

Following the launch of the book "Nuclear Hydrogen Digest: Nuclear Power in the Hydrogen Economy" in conjunction with the NICE Future Initiative of the Clean Energy Ministerial Conference, Director General Magwood joined events at NEA and Better Futures to unlock the large-scale deployment of Low Carbon hydrocarbons: The Role of nuclear and Renewables.  NEA Nuclear analyst Dr Berthelemy was also present to discuss NEA's findings on the publication, which highlighted 12 projects from around the world and their innovative initiatives that show that nuclear-powered hydrogen is no longer just an idea, but a viable solution to drive a clean hydrogen economy.  

"Today, the potential role of hydrogen in decarbonizing hard-to-reduce sectors such as heavy transport and industrial applications is once again at the center of energy policy discussions.  With decades of R&D and public-private partnerships, countries are entering a critical period of turning the hydrogen economy vision into reality, "said NEA Director-General Magwood.  

"Delivering low carbon on a large scale will require the use of all low carbon energy sources.  Nuclear power is the world's second largest source of low-carbon electricity and so has a key role to play.  As of 2022, 13 countries accounting for 80% of the world's installed nuclear power capacity have climate strategies that identify nuclear power as a competitive energy source for low hydrocarbon production, "the NEA director-general added.  

During the week in Pittsburgh, Director General Magwood also participated in ministerial views:  Global imperatives, local solutions -- action to accelerate innovative nuclear deployment,  Hosted by Kirsty Gogan, founder of Terrapraxis, with Conor Lamb, Congressman, Dr. John Wagner, Director of the Idaho National Laboratory, and Maria Korsnick, President and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute  And Dr. Todd Allen from the University of Michigan's Fastest Paths Zero Zero Initiative.  Director General Magwood also participated in a roundtable on Advancing Nuclear Deployment Safely for a Global Energy Renaissance: An Open Discussion and Private Financing, hosted by U.S. UnderSecretary of Energy David Turkle. 

In addition to the CEM13 panel meeting, Director General Magwood participated in the North American Nuclear Youth (NAYGN) event Pittsburgh Shaping the Future of Nuclear Power.  The Director-General was joined by Dr. Kathryn Huff, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Nuclear Energy, and Rich Fitzgerald, Allegheny County Executive, at an event focusing on youth leadership in the global nuclear energy sector.  

From Pittsburgh, Director General Mugwood is delighted to be back in his hometown, which continues to demonstrate its dedication to advancing the industry.  

"My hometown of Pittsburgh is in many ways the cradle of commercial nuclear power in the United States.  The technology introduced here is the foundation for the success of the nuclear energy industry today.  We are ideally suited to meet the latest generation of technologists in Steel City to drive the innovative changes needed to help countries around the world reach their net zero emissions goals."