EHA Newsletter July 2009

The EHA facilitated a tour of the premises of the EU Parliament in Brussels to identify suitable sites for hydrogen and fuel cell installations. Current back up power systems of the EU Parliament consist of large diesel generators complemeted with battery packs. Fuel cell systems connected to the natural gas grid would dramatically increase efficiency and emission reduction as is shown by the fuel cell currently being installed in the EU Parliament Luxembourg. Potential locations for small hydrogen refuelling facilities were also identified. Although the EU Parlaimetn in Brussles is only 10 years old it was clearly not build with new energy technology in mind and it currently does not feature a single use of clean energy not even solar panels. A week before the visit on the occasion of the EU Green Week the EU Parliament communicated its intention to step up its efforts to make ts own buidlings more efficient.

At the last EHA Annual General Meeting the Czech Hydrogen and Fuel cell Platform , was welcomed as EHA 15 th natioanl association member. On July 15 the inauguration of the worlds first fuel cell triple hybrid linenbus, that will go into operation this summer, took place in Prague. The project is a cooperation between Skoda Electric, the systems integrator and electrical components, the UJV Nuclear Research Institute , R&D and project coordination and Proton Motor, which produced and delivered the fuel cell triple hybrid propulsion system.The triple hybrid system is a world first combination of a fuel cell, batteries and ultra capacitors, allowing saving and further use of useful braking energy. The system is reported as saving up to 50% of energy as compared with a conventional bus drivetrain. The chassis of the new bus is a standard 12 meter with 18 tonne combined weight. The new drivetrain allows produces up to 120 kW of power, can travel up to 65 km/hr and with a full tank can travel 250km before refuelling. The hydrogen is stored on board in 350 bar compressed cylinders and carriers 20kg of hydrogen when full.

Following the first session of the newly-elected European Parliament in Strasbourg on July 14-16, the chairs of the committees and the key positions have been granted. German MEP Herbert Reul from the centre-right European Peoples Party (EPP) was elected chairman of the Industry, Research and Energy committee while the Regional Development committee belongs to its polish colleague Danuta Hübner. Former environmentalist Jo Leinen, from the Socialists and Democrats group, takes over the helm of the legislature’s environment committee, which was previously held by the EPP. The Socialists take also the Transport and Tourism committee (previously ALDE) with British MEP Bran Simpson. The new Conservative ECR group will chair the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (previously Socialists) with Tory MEP Malcolm Harbour named as chairman. The EHA compiled a list  of key MEP’s per country in these relevant EP Committees that is available for EHA  members on the Intranet (see also under EHA in Action).

On the eve of the first anniversary of the launching of the Union for the Mediterranean (Paris, 13 July 2008), the European Commission announced an additional contribution of €72 million, for 2009-2010, to the areas identified as priorities by the Euro-Mediterranean Heads of State and Government in Paris. Work will focus on the de-pollution of the Mediterranean Sea, maritime and land highways, alternative energies, with a focus on the Mediterranean Solar Plant, higher education and research and supporting investment in businesses. Part of the funds will be dedicated to support the running of the Union for the Mediterranean Secretariat. With this contribution, the total community budget dedicated since July 2008 to the priorities identified by the Union for the Mediterranean amounts €90 million. A total of € 5 mln is earmarked for studies to establish a Mediterranean Solar Plan. According to a communication on the same day of the German Desertec Foundation, the EU will also co fund their plans of High Voltage Direct Current lines to transport electricity produced by thermal solar plants from the African deserts to Europe.

A report by the Stockholm Environment Institute, entitled ‘A European Eco-efficient Economy’, will provide a basis for discussions during an informal meeting of energy and environment ministers in Åre on 23-25 July. Thus, Sweden, which took over the EU’s rotating Presidency on July 1st, has pledged to put energy efficiency high on its agenda. One of its priorities is to lead a shift to an eco-efficient economy where economic growth and climate-friendly policies go hand-in-hand. The report argues that Europe’s leadership is “primarily evident” in its climate change commitments, but in order to continue attracting investment and businesses, greater efforts must be made to promote innovation and energy efficiency. Crucially, the report urges the EU to step up programmed interventions, alongside more generic policies, to induce development and diffusion of eco-efficient technologies such as hydrogen. Due to the lack of support system, EU has so far lagged behind main competitors such as the US and Japan. The importance of a strong domestic market to nurture the growth of new industries is well known but the potential of Europe becoming a lead market for new technologies is partly unfulfilled today. The report suggests that one example to learn from is the [...]

Shell today opened a second hydrogen filling station in the greater New York City area on July 13, 2009. With a third due to open in the area later this month and one already operating there for more than a year, this is Shell’s first cluster of hydrogen filling stations. The latest station, opening at JFK international airport,  is the result of a partnership between Shell, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the US Department of Energy and General Motors. A third station in the Bronx, due to open late in July, has been developed with the New York City Department of Sanitation. A station has been operating in the City of White Plains, New York, since April 2008. The cluster of stations will provide New York drivers of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles with greater flexibility and convenience. It is a significant step on from stand-alone, demonstration stations and is part of Shell’s strategy to build expertise in the distribution and dispensing of hydrogen. “The prospects for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are strong in the longer-term”, said Duncan Macleod, Shell Vice President of Hydrogen. “This first cluster is an important step as we continue to build capability in retailing [...]

Sao Paulo state officials have launched Latin America’s first passenger bus with an electric engine powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The bus will start test runs on the streets of South America’s biggest city in August and will be joined by three similarly powered vehicles next year, said Sao Paulo Governor, Jose Serra. The goal is to have 4 hydrogen buses running in São Paulo by June 2010 and, in order to fuel these buses, a factory which produces hydrogen from water electrolysis will begin to be constructed this month. “Brazil is one of five countries in the world that have mastered this technology and that has developed a hydrogen-powered bus,” Serra said at Wednesday’s launching ceremony. China and Brazil are the only two emerging countries that have been able to take the first step towards transforming into reality the dream of a pollution-free public transport, by putting hydrogen powered buses on the streets. The project has been under development since 2004 and is the result of different partnerships, including with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and UNDP Brazil. This first bus is an important sign of the Brazilian government’s commitment towards the reduction of carbon emissions and an important [...]

H2IT in collaboration with the local chapter of the EU Enterprise Europe Network and the Italian Federation of Scientific and TechnicalAssociations FAST is organised a seminar to present the topics of the JTI Second Call for proposals. A Representative of the JTI Programme office  and Italian members of the JTI Scientific Committee and Industry and Research Grouping presented different aspects in relation to the Call’s work Programme. The seminar presentations are available on the H2IT website.

A report by the Stockholm Environment Institute, entitled ‘A European Eco-efficient Economy’, will provide a basis for discussions during an informal meeting of energy and environment ministers in Åre on 23-25 July. Thus, Sweden, which took over the EU’s rotating Presidency on July 1st, has pledged to put energy efficiency high on its agenda. One of its priorities is to lead a shift to an eco-efficient economy where economic growth and climate-friendly policies go hand-in-hand. The report argues that Europe’s leadership is “primarily evident” in its climate change commitments, but in order to continue attracting investment and businesses, greater efforts must be made to promote innovation and energy efficiency. Crucially, the report urges the EU to step up programmed interventions, alongside more generic policies, to induce development and diffusion of eco-efficient technologies such as hydrogen. Due to the lack of support system, EU has so far lagged behind main competitors such as the US and Japan. The importance of a strong domestic market to nurture the growth of new industries is well known but the potential of Europe becoming a lead market for new technologies is partly unfulfilled today. The report suggests that one example to learn from is the [...]