Safety has always been considered fundamental for an appropriate introduction of any technology. It is, therefore, evident that the safe use of the Hydrogen vector is an important factor of development for the future of Hydrogen Economy. The “visions” developed in the United States, Europe, Japan, etc. have explicitly pointed out that the safety is a key drivers affecting hydrogen energy development. Often, the research programmes, carried out in these years in various countries, include studies on safety, related to the development of the technology on which a given programme is focused.
The European Union has financed a research programme called HYSAFE “Safety of Hydrogen as Energy Carrier”, within the VI framework programme of Research and Development. This programme is a Network of Excellent specifically focused on the study of the safety of the Hydrogen vector.
The Network examines safety in the use of the hydrogen vector, in a systematic way, starting from the technological applications (production, transport, use in the stationary mode, use in the transport mode, etc.), and considering the phenomena which can influence its safe use (release, explosions, fire, etc.). The HYSAFE programme also includes a stage in which the results of these studies are supposed to be compared with those of the other European and International projects. This stage is the International Conference on Safety of the Hydrogen ICHS.
The ICHS was held, for the first time, in Pisa on 7th–9th September 2005, and has been attended by about 300 delegates, coming from 18 countries from all over the world. During the three-day conference, panels have been organized according to the following subjects: Hydrogen Hazard and Risk, Hydrogen Production and Handling, Hydrogen Applications, Standardisation and Legal requirements, with the presentation of about 80 papers.
During the three-day conference – several experts, coming from all over the world, have organized many discussions, meetings and projects. In fact, the main aim of the Organizing Committee of ICHS was to provide – opportunities, through this Conference, for anyone who was interested in the Safety of the Hydrogen Vector.
Because of the limited space, the 16 articles presented in this Special Issue are only a small part of those presented during the ICHS. The selection has been made by the Conference Scientific Committee (and then evaluated by the peer review of the journal). The choice has been difficult because many other interesting papers were presented at the Conference. The website of HYSAFE (www.hysafe.org/home) includes a link to the Conference which gives the opportunity to read all the papers.
The success of the Conference was also due to the fact that it was focused on the notion of safety, which, even though it is recalled very often, is difficult to determine or quantify. In its social and industrial application, such a notion requires an international research group working to discuss typologies of research, methods, techniques, procedures, laws, etc., which would render the notion of safety efficient. Should it be adopted on an international scale, this notion is more likely to be perceived by those countries who are going to be interested in the Hydrogen Economy.
The acknowledged success of the event is further testified by the CO and HYSAFE members’ appreciation, as well as by their requests of the Conference material, which have been received in the period between the days of the Conference and the publications of this Special Issue.
Those who could not take part in the ICHS 2005 may join the ICHS 2007, which will be held in San Sebastian (Spain) on 11th–13th September 2007.