10/09/2019
October 1 – 5, 2019, Gilman Industries attended the Hydrogen Festival with events sponsored by HyTrEc2, SHFCA and TAP2G in Aberdeen Scotland.
From the moment Spencer Teplin and I landed, we were greeted by warm, bright people who genuinely wanted learn about our technology- and this was before we even got to the event.
We rendezvoused with Siv Almaas, our Hydrogen Standards Advisor, who lives in Glasgow. She is also the founder of Almaas Technologies, a group crucial to the development of the Leeds project.
On October 1st, we attended the HyTrEc2 mid-term conference, already in progress when we arrived. Many of the slideshows were very informative and helped us see what the green hydrogen sector was focusing on. It was good to meet colleagues and people we aspire to be like, outside of LinkedIn.
As part of the HyTrEc2 conference, Spencer and I boarded a hydrogen fuel cell bus tour visiting Kittybrewster Hydrogen Refueling Station. The filling station was a pleasant surprise, with many components from different corporations in the hydrogen sector all working together to make this happen. We got to see the electrolyzers, an Ionic Fluid Compressor, the storage solutions and all the components making these a seamless solution. Our guide remarked that Aberdonians show no hesitation about boarding these buses.
On October 2, the Scottish Highlands Fuel Cell Association 11th Annual Conference was more than we ever expected. Over 150 delegates from several top-notch corporations displayed their triumphs in green hydrogen and fuel cell technology, spoke about their ambitions and how they plug into power grids/renewables, and raised awareness of the direction and prospects for this industry.
During this conference, all representatives had an open mind and wanted to learn what Gilman Industries is doing with Evolve™ (especially using non-desalinated seawater). Most of them had stellar advice for us.
We later visited the work garage for an introduction on how the buses were put together, detailing their inner components, and got some real-time data on their performance and work cycle.
This is just one of Aberdeen’s hydrogen solutions, there are several more.
On the evening of the 2nd, Doosan Babcock and EMEC Hydrogen sponsored a Drinks and Networking Reception, which featured a Gin and Whiskey tasting. We tried Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin Botanicals, a raspberry/angelica infused botanical, and a no nonsense Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin - both excellent. This distillery has converted to using green hydrogen instead of coal, oil, or LNG.
The Trans-Atlantic Power to Gas Workshop was sponsored by the European Marine Energy Center, and our associate SUNY Stony Brook I-GIT.
It was fantastic to meet their delegates at the SHFCA Conference, and a delight to work with them in the TAP2G 2-day workshop. We developed many ideas that I can quickly see becoming part of standard policy in the Green Hydrogen Industry.
On the first day of TAP2G, we were asked to pitch our technology. Spencer pitched Evolve™ to the room of captivated delegates, discussing our technology, our advantages of electrolyzing seawater, and the problems it solved. We scheduled many meetings afterwards.
Don Hyland asked me to be interviewed by the Robert Gordon University (RGU) Media Students, and OGV Energy. The RGU students were ultra-professional; very curious about Evolve™ and how it will be part of future hydrogen supply. They are passionate about media and I believe they have a bright career in front of them.
An hour later, I went to the interview for OGV and found it was being performed by the same students. I gave a longer interview where the reporter, Amy Reid, was able to ask more detailed questions.
October 5th, I was asked to help with a section of the workshop- part 2 of the narrative for the green hydrogen industry. During part one we jotted down our ideas for each section of the industry to make the narrative. In the second part, I had the attendees hone these ideas into 360 branding for the green hydrogen industry. The delegates were very focused on creating the brand as a business tool.
The takeaway for Gilman Industries was almost unanimous encouragement from our colleagues about our seawater approach and the status of our Evolve™ technology.
We wanted to thank Nigel Holmes of SHFCA and Jon Clipsham of EMEC for hosting such an incredible event last week in Aberdeen. We also want to thank Devinder Mahajan of SUNY Stony Brook I-GIT for helping facilitate TAP2G, and for inviting us. The TAP2G workshop was amazing with its high-quality attendees and presentations, filled with truly state-of-the-industry/technology information and the human warmth of Aberdeen.
Aberdeen is a city made of granite, and while we visited the sky was mostly overcast, but in this city of grey we have met the warmest, greenest people. They want more green hydrogen and the jobs it brings to their community.
I’m looking forward to future of hydrogen; days when the rest of the world is more like Aberdeen.
Happy Hydrogen Day.
--- Brian Gilman, CEO of Gilman Industries, LLC
It’s time to Evolve™.
