The Hydrogen Innovation & Technology (HIT) Conference 2025, which was held on October 14–16 in Houston, brought together global experts, researchers, and industry leaders to explore the latest developments and real-world applications and innovations of hydrogen technologies. The 2.5-day event, part of the ongoing alliance between the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), highlighted breakthroughs transforming the energy landscape with hydrogen and its derivates in industrial, transportation, and marine use. The conference was focused on practical lessons learnt, innovation opportunities, and a strong approach towards systems analysis
“Houston is the energy capital of the world and a shift towards a hydrogen-based economy will require changes that must be adopted by the industrial ecosystem in this region,” said Debalina Sengupta, Chief Operating Officer of the Energy Transition Institute (ETI) at the University of Houston (UH). “There is a strong push for increasing hydrogen use globally and Houston has the capability of bringing the world's leading licensors, technology providers, operators, and parts of the entire value system to make this happen. That was the impetus for us to bring world leaders together and have this conversation here for the Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Conference.”
Dr. Sengupta was a key member of the steering committee that brought the conference to Houston, which also included David Dankworth from ExxonMobil, Devinder Mahajan from I-GIT, Stony Brook University, Hanna Breunig from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, among others, who are key players from industry, academia, and the National Labs.
Sengupta delivered the welcome address on the opening day and introduced Brett Perlman, CEO of Gulf Energy Catalyst, who set the tone for the conference with a keynote on the Houston region’s evolving hydrogen market. Perlman emphasized the Gulf Coast’s influential role in scaling hydrogen projects as part of the region’s emerging energy ecosystem.
Sunita Satyapal, Hydrogen leader and former US Department of Energy member, and Amgad Elgowainy, senior scientist and distinguished fellow at Argonne National Laboratory, delivered the keynotes on Days 2 and 3 and spoke about the legacy of hydrogen program development over the past 20 years, with a strong basis in science, technology, and policy analysis that make it a viable option for the holistic future of dispatchable energy.
The technical sessions covered a wide array of topics, such as “Hydrogen for Transportation,” “End Use Applications,” “Scaling & Commercialization – Challenges and Insights,” “Hydrogen Production Driven by CI, TEA, and LCA,” “Progress in Electrolysis Technologies,” and “Global Value Chain and the Hydrogen Economy.”
Engagement from UH included two talks by Dr. Joe Powell. He shared insights into the Houston Hydrogen Transportation Pilot program, its commercial scalability, production economics, and potential to drive the widespread adoption of hydrogen. Dr. Sengupta chaired two sessions and UH students also presented 4 posters on Day 2 of the event.
Other engaging presentations during the conference included the following:
- “‘Proof of Concept’ to Full Furnace Application: A Hydrogen Burner Commercialization Journey” presented by ExxonMobil
- “Pipeline Connected Hydrogen Refueling Stations” presented by Linde
- “Clean Hydrogen: The Role of Carbon Intensity and Lifecycle Analysis” presented by EcoEngineers
- “Unlocking Ultra-Low Carbon H2, Fuels & Chemicals via JMs ATR and GHR/ATR technologies” presented by Johnson Matthey
- “Hydrogen-Fired SMR for Blue H2 Production: A Flexible and Economical Pathway to Decarbonization” presented by Technip Energies
Along with information on updated industry trends, the conference also offered a platform
for professionals and academics to network and connect in shaping the future of hydrogen,
with attendees gaining firsthand exposure to cutting-edge ideas with real-world applications.