Due to the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic, the entire humanity has faced many devastating challenges. As a consequence, we had to postpone our 23^rd WHEC from July 2020 to June 2022 with the hope that we will successfully organize the conference. Its format will this time be hybrid to cover both onsite and online presentations along with the exhibitions in both manners.

In May 2020, one of my perspective articles appeared in International Journal of Energy Research to highlight the importance of hydrogen energy and defining the year 2020 with the pandemic as a turning point where the carbon age turns into hydrogen age, obviously confirming that the use of hydrocarbon fuels will decrease while the clean hydrogen production and use will increase. Apparently, in July 2020 European Union initiated their green hydrogen deal, and many other countries declared their road maps and strategic plans to implement hydrogen technologies. Almost every country is now trying to do something to get ready for the hydrogen economy where the economic sectors will depend heavily on hydrogen and hydrogen related technologies. One should not think that hydrogen will only serve as fuel or energy carrier. Not really! Hydrogen will be deployed as fuel, energy carrier, and feedstock. We are pretty much familiar with the dimensions of hydrogen as fuel and energy carrier, but not with feedstock which will really help change the carbon fuel economy to the hydrogen fuel economy where hydrogen will be used to synthesize many other chemicals and fuels for various purposes in many sectors. In conjunction with this, we have even been seeing drastic changes in petroleum sector where they have a common goal to go for renewables and hydrogen. So, the future will be with clean hydrogen… I strongly encourage all to join this hydrogen movement before it is too late.

As the chairman of the 23rd World Hydrogen Energy Conference (WHEC-2022), it is my great pleasure to cordially invite you to Istanbul to attend this prestigious conference. WHEC is a unique scientific event, as initiated by Prof. T. Nejat Veziroglu and his Colleagues back in 1974, and aims to bring all researchers, scientists, academicians and professionals working in the field of hydrogen energy systems; ranging from production to storage and end-use options, such as fuel cells for a common goal to hydrogen civilization. This conference will provide both online and onsite platforms for contributions to the development and enhancement of hydrogen energy systems; as well as a place to interact with researchers from all around the world to gain a better understanding of the use of hydrogen energy systems for a sustainable future. Much like past WHECs, WHEC-2022 will not only provide an outlook on the current research activities, but also will help shape the future of hydrogen energy systems. Furthermore, Istanbul, as an ancient city that connects two continents of Asia and Europe, has always been strategically very important, and hosting such a conference in Istanbul will attract researchers from every part of the world to promote hydrogen energy systems and share their innovative ideas and future plans. Moreover, one has to keep in mind that Turkey is dedicated to increase the share of renewables in its energy supply and consider hydrogen energy systems as potential solutions. In conjunction with this, Turkey has expanded its research, innovation, and technology development activities to produce, store, and use hydrogen in an affordable, reliable, safe, clean, and sustainable manner. Given these activities as well as the financial investment and dedication to hydrogen energy systems in Turkey, Istanbul is undoubtedly the perfect host city for this event. Under the shelter of the prestigious International Association for Hydrogen Energy (IAHE) and the support of Turkish National Hydrogen Association, it is expected that WHEC-2022 will turn out to be a success story with the strongest online and onsite participation and highest global influence.

I look forward to welcoming you to Istanbul on June 26, 2022.

Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Dincer
Conference Chairman, WHEC-2022
President, National Hydrogen Association