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EHA in Action
The EHA welcomes the European Commission’s Communication “A sustainable future for transport: Towards an integrated, technology-led and user friendly system” (COM 2009/279/4) that was presented on June 17, 2009. The EHA fully supports the Commission’s reference to the need for the implementation of demontration projects and public interventions with regards to the development of infrastructure that supports new vehicles like “smart grids for electric transport or hydrogen distribution networks” (no. 79 in the document). However the EHA strongly suggests the use of the word “and” not “or” in this sentence as the development of electric transport in Europe will regard both battery powered as fuel cell powered vehicles, fuelled by hydrogen, to cover all transport needs. Battery car development will in fact further enhance the production of commercial fuel cell vehicles. To achieve the EU’s objective of an “integrated, technology-led and user friendly system” the EHA refers to the need to confront the efficient use of primary energy, including renewables, to produce the electricity to power battery cars and hydrogen to fuel cell vehicles. The EHA in collaboration with the German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association, DWV, and other national associations is preparing a paper to explain how an efficient and sustainable electric transport infrastructure to fuel both battery and fuel cell cars can be best achieved . A recent study of the US National Hydrogen Asscoation, reviewed by the US Department of Energy, demonstrates that 80% CO2 reduction in 2050 is only possible with the use of hydrogen in fuel cell cars (see under EU policy)
About EHA
In 2000 five national hydrogen organisations established the European Hydrogen Association (EHA) and started a close collaboration to promote the use of hydrogen as an energy vector in Europe. In 2004 major European industries active in the development of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies joined the EHA and enforced this effort to create a commercial market for stationary and transport applications and a role as market leader for the European hydrogen and fuel cell sector. The EHA curremtly represents 14 national hydrogen and fuel cell organisations and the main European companies active in the hydrogen infrastucture development. Its unique membership structure has enabled the EHA to have up-close insight in local developments and to communicate important issues regarding industrial and regulatory needs to key decision makers at EU level.
The missions of the Association are defined as follows:
1. Information
1.1. Internal Collect relevant information and circulate it between members (scientific, economical and technical, laws and regulations, requests for proposals, events, etc.). Encourage exchanges and joint actions between members.
1.2. External Identify and advertise hydrogen-related capabilities existing in Europe (not restricted to those of members). Inform the different relevant segments of society through adapted means (specialists, elected officials, industrial companies, public bodies, teachers, students, research scientists, media and general public). Promote European capabilities with a view to fostering European participation to national and international projects and to European programs, in particular through the organization of specialized workshops, and the creation of events. Promote the views of the Association at national level in Europe by direct contact with relevant national authorities, and at European level by contact with European Union organizations, including with the European Parliament and the European Commission.
2. Representation
2.1. Interface with national and international organizations, and with public bodies in Europe, especially in the area of laws, standards and regulations.
2.2. Promote cooperation between its members.
2.3. Promote cooperation with similar associations in the rest of the world.
2.4. Actively promote the creation of national hydrogen associations in European countries where such associations do not exist. Assist candidate founders in drawing-up statutes, and by promoting their projects with their local authorities, universities and industrial organizations.
2.5. Actively seek a good coordination of hydrogen-related events in Europe.
2.6. Appoint representatives to become members of advisory bodies, scientific institutions, etc.
3. Expertise
3.1. Identify and maintain a list of experts belonging to member companies and/or organizations that the Association will advertise and propose to appropriate organizations in Europe and in the rest of the world.
3.2. Encourage research & development initiatives that have innovative potential, in particular by suggesting topics to the European Commission’s R&D program.
3.3. Effect any studies for the benefit of the Association, either directly or by contracting to outside specialists. Effect specific socio-economic studies at European level in order to show the economic-societal impact of the use of hydrogen at European level. Stress the economical aspects and health aspects, the use of hydrogen being seen as a way towards facilitating replacement of expendable energies by renewable energies.
3.4. Encourage the setting-up of technical projects that can facilitate the use of hydrogen or solve critical issues.
3.5. Be active in the area of standards : propose or participate to the creation of European or international standards, or any other technical documents relating to hydrogen, and advertise such standards or documents.
3.6. Identify relevant expertise outside Europe.
3.7. Identify relevant expertise in topics indirectly related to hydrogen, such as renewable energies, etc.
4. Education & Training
4.1. Promote the training of young research students, technicians and engineers in areas relevant to the object of the Association.
4.2. Promote the teaching of hydrogen-related techniques and technology, and related socio-economic aspects, and the introduction of hydrogen-related modules in courses on related topics (Environment, renewable energies, industrial uses, etc..).
Hydrogen Hits the Roads
Baden-Württemberg opens first public hydrogen filling station 18-06-2009 On the site of the OMV service station at Stuttgart Airport, OMV in cooperation with Linde AG and Daimler AG is opening ...
Hydrogen Midi Buses in North Rhine Westphalia 15-06-2009 In the he German cities Bottrop and Gladbeck two low-floor fuel cell midibuses will be aprt of regular public transport ...
EU Policy News
JU FCH second Call for proposals will come out the second week of July. 26-06-2009 In reference to our earlier annoucements the second Call for proposals of the Joint Undertaking for fuel cells and hydro...
Environment Council on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control: more flexibility. 26-06-2009 The Environment Council on June 25, 2009 agreeed to more flexibiliy for Member States in implementing the IPPC Directi...
Events
Hydrogen and Fuel cell infrastructure, 15-19 June 2009 Ajaccio, Corsica, France 11-06-2009 4th International short course in the successful series “Progress in Hydrogen Safety” gives an insight about...
Fuel Cell Summit 2009, 23-25 June 2009, Hamburg 22-05-2009 Fuel Cell Summit 2009, in Hamburg, Germany, will offer ample opportunities for policy makers, industry associations, and...