In this Hydrogen Leader Podcast episode, we speak with Florentin de Loppinot, the CEO of Teal Mobility. Florentin opens up on his personal and professional journey, starting with a tragic reminder of the importance of road safety following the loss of a friend in a road accident in East Africa, a cause he has actively championed. He shares his extensive experience in the energy sector, notably with Total Energies, and his leadership philosophy centered around team-building, nurturing talent, and critical listening. Florentin emphasizes the value of role models and how they have shaped his career, and discusses the multicultural influences from his work spans across multiple countries, particularly Africa. The conversation delves into the motivations and operations of Teal Mobility, a joint venture between Total Energies and Air Liquide aimed at accelerating hydrogen mobility in Europe, particularly for long-haul transportation. Florentin outlines the joint venture's business model, strategic operations, and the current and future landscape of hydrogen mobility, including partnerships, market responses, and regulatory environments in various European countries. He underscores the critical interplay between hydrogen as a cleaner energy source and the logistics industry, the importance of building a robust refueling infrastructure, and the technological developments among truck manufacturers. Florentin also touches on the broader hydrogen economy, discussing regulatory mandates like the EU’s alternative fuel infrastructure directive, the cooperative efforts of his company's shareholders, and the importance of self-reliance and entrepreneurship in advancing the hydrogen agenda. As he envisions the future, Florentin hopes to make hydrogen more affordable and accessible while building a motivated and effective team. He concludes with valuable advice on maintaining humility and gratitude throughout one’s career journey.

In this Hydrogen Leader Podcast episode, we talk to Dr. Sunita Satyapal, a notable figure and subject matter expert in the hydrogen industry, with 3 decades of experience including as a researcher, industry manager, and government program director, to discuss her career, the state of the hydrogen economy, and her future endeavors. Dr. Satyapal acknowledges public information on the administration's intent to reduce the federal workforce and reflects on progress as well as the ups and downs of hydrogen funding and policies over the past two decades. Björn introduces Dr. Satyapal, highlighting her significant contributions, in her prior roles including coordinating approximately $10 billion in hydrogen programs at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and her role in advancing hydrogen on a global scale. Dr. Satyapal describes public information on the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP), a voluntary program she opted for which would help provide opportunities for junior federal workers to avoid termination, reflecting her commitment to the next generation of leaders. Despite stepping down from DOE after nearly 22 years, Dr. Satyapal maintains her passion for hydrogen. The conversation shifts to the state of the U.S. hydrogen economy, noting significant legislative boosts like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The 45V hydrogen production tax credit is highlighted as crucial for making hydrogen cost-competitive, particularly for the U.S. which has very low-cost hydrogen from natural gas. Dr. Satyapal stresses the importance of sustaining momentum, managing infrastructure challenges, and ensuring commercially viable offtake to scale hydrogen effectively. The discussion includes global hydrogen strategies and Dr. Satyapal emphasizes that hydrogen is part of a broader portfolio of solutions for decarbonization and also offers energy security and resiliency. As for challenges, she points out high costs and the lack of infrastructure, sustained investment, and offtake. She shares her leadership philosophy, which includes focusing on people, collaboration, and maintaining high standards. She discusses the traits she looks for in hiring, such as integrity, passion, technical competence, and the ability to deliver results, as well as the importance of a team-oriented mindset and perseverance. As for her future, she says she is still considering options and how she may be able to provide maximum impact for the hydrogen industry.

In this Hydrogen Leader Podcast episode, we speak with Erik Schäfer, an experienced entrepreneur with a passion for green technology and the hydrogen economy.

Erik shares insights from his extensive career as a founder, having started approximately 20 companies over the last 30 years.

His journey began in Silicon Valley in 1988, and over the years, he transitioned from the internet and medical device industries to focus on natural resources and green technology.

Erik is currently involved in the natural hydrogen space, an emerging sector where hydrogen is extracted from the earth in its natural form, commonly referred to as natural, white, or geological hydrogen.

He discusses his work on projects in the Middle East, particularly in the UAE and Oman, where significant quantities of hydrogen have been identified.

Erik highlights the advantages of natural hydrogen, such as lower production costs and a smaller ecological footprint compared to traditional or green hydrogen.

He also talks about the regulatory challenges and the steps needed to make natural hydrogen a viable part of the global energy transition.

Additionally, Erik touches upon his engagement with the Hydrogen Europe organization and his efforts to promote natural hydrogen in Europe.

He shares his involvement in a hydrogen fund called Zenko, which aims to bridge the financing gap in the hydrogen industry by investing in later-stage companies.

Erik emphasizes the importance of collaboration among investors, project developers, and regulators to create a sustainable hydrogen economy.

Throughout the podcast, Erik's enthusiasm and dedication to making the world a better place through innovative green technologies are evident, and he encourages others to join him in this mission.