Press Release 14 November 2007

PRIME MINISTER OF ICELAND RECEIVES
2007 IPHE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Rome, Italy, 14 November 2007 - Today at the 20th World Energy Congress, Geir H. Haarde, Prime Minister of Iceland, received the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award of the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE).  The award was presented to Prime Minister Haarde in recognition of his lifetime of leadership and contributions toward fulfilling the objectives of the IPHE.

During the time of Geir H. Haarde's participation in government, Iceland's renewable energy portfolio has evolved to encompass approximately 72% of the total energy consumption, the highest of any country in the world.  Haarde is spearheading Iceland's efforts to convert its transport and fishing fleet to hydrogen, which would make the country 100% renewable.

When Iceland launched its program for a hydrogen economy in 1998, Mr. Haarde was the Finance Minister.  Under his leadership, the government supported the development of an innovative public-private company, Icelandic New Energy LTD., owned by a consortium of Iceland's domestic energy companies, a number of institutions led by the University of Iceland, and three internationally renowned companies: Daimler, Norsk Hydro and Shell Hydrogen.

Among its many responsibilities, Icelandic New Energy developed and operated the ECTOS project (Ecological City TranspOrt System), with support from the European Commission.  This ground-breaking demonstration project proved for the first time the technical feasibility of operating hydrogen and fuel cell buses in regular commercial service.

Also recognized by the IPHE are:

IPHE Excellence in Leadership Award - Jing Xu, Deputy Director, Department of High Tech and Industrialization, Ministry of Science and  Technology, China 

IPHE Technical Achievement Award - British Columbia Hydrogen Highwaytm

IPHE Technical Achievement Award - Professor Masahiro Watanabe, Director of the Clean Energy Research Center, University of Yamanashi, Japan

About the IPHE:

The IPHE was established in 2003 as an international institution to accelerate the transition to a global hydrogen economy. The IPHE Partners include Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, European Commission, France, Germany, Iceland, India, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, and the United States. The purpose of the IPHE is to provide a mechanism for partners to organize, coordinate and implement effective, efficient, and focused international research, development, demonstration and commercial utilization activities related to hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

About WEC:

The World Energy Council (WEC) is the foremost multi-energy organisation in the world today. WEC has Member Committees in over 90 countries, including most of the largest energy producing and energy consuming countries. Established in 1923; the organisation covers all types of energy, including coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear, hydro, and renewable, and is UN-accredited, non-governmental, non-commercial and non-aligned. WEC is a UK-registered charity headquartered in London. WEC Services Limited was established in 2001 as the incorporated trading subsidiary of WEC.
WEC's Mission is "To promote the sustainable supply and use of energy for the greatest benefit of all."

IPHE Media Contact:
Michael Mills, IPHE Secretariat
Tel: +1-202-586-6653
IPHE@ee.doe.gov
Barry Worthington: bworthington@usea.org
Tel: +1-202-312-1230
Mobile: +1-202-352-0415

WEC Media contact:
Mathias Hocke: hocke@worldenergy.org
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7734 5996
Stephan Albrechtskirchinger: albrechtskirchinger@worldenergy.org
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7734 5996