Attendees gathered together to network, discuss research, and collaborate with new associates.
The first international ECS Conference on Electrochemical Energy Conversion & Storage with SOFC-XIV convened in Glasgow, July 26-31, 2015, at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. More than 800 attendees, from over 40 countries explored three main symposium topics.
More than 400 oral presentations and 300 poster presentations added great depth to the scientific material presented in Glasgow.
The Organizers
Subhash Singhal (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, U.S.) and Koichi Eguchi (Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan) organized the section on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, which covered all aspects of research, development, and engineering of solid oxide fuel cells.
Subhash Singhal at the SOFC banquet.
Section B focused on Batteries and was led by Peter Bruce (University of Oxford), Clare Grey (ALISTORE-European Research Institute), Stefan Freunberger (Graz University of Technology, Austria), and Jie Xiao (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, U.S.).
The Low Temperature Fuel Cells track, featuring presentations on low-temperature fuel cells, as well as electrolyzers and redox flow cells, was organized by Hubert Gasteiger (Technische Universität München, Germany), Deborah Jones (CNRS – ICGM – AIME – University of Montpellier, France), Thomas Schmidt (Paul Scherrer Institut, Switzerland), and J. Herranz (Paul Scherrer Institut, Switzerland).
About the Meeting
The ECS Conference on Electrochemical Energy Conversion & Storage with SOFC-XIV served as a major forum for the discussion of interdisciplinary research from around the world through a variety of formats, such as invited and keynote oral presentations, poster sessions, and exhibits. This was the first of a series of planned biennial conferences in Europe by ECS on electrochemical energy conversion/storage materials, concepts, and systems, with the intent to bring together scientists and engineers to discuss both fundamental advances and engineering innovations.
The size of the meeting, and focused topical areas allowed attendees to fully participate and listen to a broad range of new topics throughout the week while networking with fellow colleagues and associates.
Nigel Brandon delivering his plenary address.
The conference started off with a general plenary session on Monday morning where Nigel Brandon, Director of the Sustainable Gas Institute at Imperial College London, delivered his cutting edge talk, “Electrochemistry in Energy Applications: Policy Drivers, Commercial Opportunities, and Research Challenges.” Prof. Brandon addressed the role and value of electrochemical technologies such as fuel cells, lithium batteries, flow batteries, supercapacitors, and electrolyzers in delivering a secure and sustainable energy system. Prof. Brandon, of Imperial College London, is also Director of the UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Hub, and Co-Director of the UK Energy Storage Hub.
Minister Fergus Ewing addressed the audience during the ECS Plenary Session.
Scotland Leading the Way
ECS President Dan Scherson welcomed Fergus Ewing, the Scotland Minister for Energy, Business, and Tourism. Minister Ewing discussed Scotland’s renewable energy programs, and goals while welcoming attendees to Scotland. Minister Ewing explained why Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city, is a fitting venue when considering the country’s goal of utilizing 100 percent renewable energy by 2020.
In 2012, Scotland pulled 40 percent of its power from renewable resources—a 24 percent increase over 2010. Scotland is expected to hit the half-way point on the path of obtaining 100 percent renewable energy this year.
“I am delighted that The Electrochemical Society chose Scotland as the platform for some of the top researchers globally in fuel cells and batteries to come together and discuss advances and engineering innovations,” said Fergus Ewing, the Scotland Minister for Energy, Business, and Tourism. “Events such as these are a great opportunity to showcase all that Scotland has to offer for both leisure and business. It also gives me the opportunity to highlight that Scotland’s universities (spearheaded by the Energy Technology Partnership) are at the leading edge of innovation in a broad range of energy storage and conversion technologies.”
Ewing went on to say, “For our part, the Scottish Government and its agencies are working together to open markets, help companies to innovate, make production efficiency savings, and safeguard jobs in order to strengthen the Scottish share of global markets. They are part of a cultural shift that brings the innovation and creativity of our academic sector to the heart of our business life and puts business drive firmly into the heart of our academic sector.”
The Low Temperature Fuel Cell student power award winners with the Low Temperature Fuel Cell lead and co-organizers.
Poster Winners
The Low Temperature Fuel Cells symposium selected four student poster award winners; the awards were sponsored by Ion Power. First place was awarded to Susan Taylor, Paul Scherrer Institute (Switzerland) for her poster entitled, “Oxygen Functionalized Carbon Surfaces – A Suitable Electrode Material for Vanadium Reduction in Redox Flow Cell Applications.”
Second place was awarded to Jarrod Milshtein, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (U.S.), for his poster entitled, “Analytical Model for the Interdigitated Flow Field.”
Third place was awarded to Zakiya Al Amri, School of Physics, University of Bristol (UK), for her poster entitled, “The Catalytic Behavior of Pt Clusters on Au and Pd/Au as a Function of Their Surface Coverage and Density.” Also in third place was Ludwig Asen, Technische Universität München (Germany), for his poster entitled, “Electrodeposition of Novel Catalyst Materials for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction.”
Attendees checking out the Metrohm U.K. Ltd. lab during the coffee break.
Thanks!
ECS thanks all the presenters, exhibitors, and volunteers for their support in making the ECS Conference on Electrochemical Energy Conversion & Storage with SOFC-XIV a huge success. A special thanks to the meeting sponsors, Pine Research Instrumentation, Ion Power, and Metrohm U.K. Ltd.
PS: We’re adding new meeting photos every day to our Facebook page! Go check them out.
