EHA Newsletter October 2009

The EHA met with the the interim director of the Unit Automotive of the Commission’s DG Enterprise to discuss the first experiences wit hte EU Green Car Initiaitve that was annouced last November as part of teh EU Economic Recovery Package to support the struggling European  car industry.  The programme focusses on the development of electric powertrain with a clear focus on batteries and support for clean diesel and biofuel technology. It provides financial support  for green technologies in the form of grants from the European Commission’s scientific research budget, and loans  from the European Investment Bank.  Under the Green Cars Initiative, research will be funded in a variety of areas such as greener combustion engines for trucks, bio-methane, and electric and hybrid vehicles and infrastructure. The financial support measures will be supplemented by demand side measures involving regulatory action by Member States and the EU, such as the reduction of car registration taxes on low CO2 cars to stimulate car purchase by citizens.Mr. Jean  explained that the first calls for proposal that was announced on July 30 was the result of a collabroation  with DG RTD and DG TREN. The EHA explained the importance of hydrogen and fuel cells in the development of a future electric transport system [...]

The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) Stakeholders’ General Assembly will take place on 26 and 27 October at the European Commission’s Charlemagne conference centre in the European quarter of Brussels. The EHA and  HyER (formerly HyRaMP) are collaborating with the JTI Programme office to ensure a good representation of national and  regional developments. EHA president, Lars Sjunnesson, will moderate session 1 on the first experiences with the JTI. The last sesion of the First day will feature presentations of regional and national authorities.  On the second day, the sessions will examine the broader perspectives and a number of distinguished contributors will analyze the market, as well as the political developments affecting the commercialization of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies. First organized in 2008 to mark the launch of the FCH JU, the Stakeholders General Assembly is an annual event aimed at informing all interested parties about the activities of the FCH JU and acquiring feedback for future planning of the programme. It is also a platform for European and global stakeholders across sectors to come together to examine and assess the current position of this emerging industry and exchange ideas on next steps. The Stakeholders General Assembly [...]

Following the re-election of José Manuel Barroso at the head of the European Commission for the next five years on, September 16 by the EU Parliament, the outline of the new Commission is excepted to be established at the end of October. However, sources in the European Commission indicated that the 27 commissioners may stay on as “caretakers” until the end of the year because of possible delays in ratifying the Lisbon Treaty in the Czech Senate.  Below a short status update on the relevant Directorates General (DG) for hydrogen and fuel cell stakeholders. Enterprise and Industry Günter Verheugen (PES/Germany) will  retire as Industry Commissioner and another German MEP, Günther Oettinger will be at the head of the DG ENTR. The current minister-president of Baden-Württemberg is a surprising choice as he had not been thought to be among the leading candidates for the post and he’s not recognized at the international nor European the level. Oettinger who has a law and economic background and a member of the governing Christian Democrats (CDU), is regarded is as an expert on tax policy. Regional Development In September 15, three new commissioners have been temporary nominated until this autumn, as their predecessors have been elected [...]

The European Commission, along with leaders from 22 world countries, explored on 13 October 2009, the best ways to accelerate the commercialisation of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) at the 3rd Ministerial Meeting of the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF), an international climate change initiative focussed on the development of improved, cost-effective technologies for the separation and capture of carbon dioxide, its transport and long-term safe storage. “Public authorities must continue to support promoting the development and deployment of CCS technologies if we want to be successful in fighting climate change. However, it is also time for significant private sector investments in order to commercialise demonstration projects and bring CCS technologies to the level of economic feasibility”, said Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs. The Forum adopted a Ministerial Declaration elaborating on project support, knowledge sharing, capacity building and other priorities of the CSLF. The actions of the Forum will be integrated in the global energy and climate agenda including the process towards the UN Framework Convention for Climate Change. The European Union has already developed a comprehensive package of legal, financial and industrial support elements designed in successive initiatives approved since December 2007 by the European Council. Firstly, the CCS Directive [...]

The European Commission recently launched an online Strategic Energy Technologies (SET-Plan) Information System, “SETIS”, which provides the latest research results on the status, forecasts and R&D investment figures for low-carbon technologies. It underpins the effective strategic planning, conception and implementation of EU energy technology policy and serves notably to the implementation of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan). SETIS assesses and monitors those technologies that have a significant potential to help Europe meet its energy and climate change targets, such as wind power, solar power, CCS or bioenergy. The Information System offers interactive tools to compare the maximum potential and energy production costs foreseen for the different technologies over time. Scientific and market analyses are fed into the system by the SETIS community, led by the European Commission through its Joint Research Centre (JRC), working in close collaboration with other Commission services, EU Member States and European stakeholders in industry, research and finance. The analyses cover in particular the low-carbon technologies identified by the SET-Plan and proposed as European Industrial Initiatives (wind, photovoltaics, concentrating solar power, bioenergy, carbon dioxide capture and storage -CCS-, smart grids, nuclear fission), two ongoing Initiatives (fuel cell and hydrogen and nuclear fusion) as well [...]

Following the public consultation which has run until 30 September 2009 and of which EHA has responded by a position paper, a second high level stakeholders’ conference will take place on 20 November 2009. The conference aims at collecting stakeholders’ views on concrete measures to consider in the preparation of the new White Paper. The participation to the event, which will take place  in Brussels and will host around 600 participants, is free of charge. To register, click here

The achievements of the World’s Largest Hydrogen Powered Bus Fleet will be showcased at the FINAL CONFERENCE of the HyFLEET:CUTE Project. The Conference will include Exhibitions of the Daimler / EvoBus Fuel Cell and the MAN Internal Combustion Engine hydrogen buses.  There will also be tours of the Hydrogen Refuelling Infrastructure and lots of opportunities to discuss details of the HyFLEET:CUTE Project with the Project Partners and network with colleagues and other people with interest and expertise in hydrogen. The FIRST PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION of the NEXT GENERATION Daimler Citaro HYBRID FUEL CELL BUS will also be at the Conference. An excellent programme of speakers has been assembled. There will also be TWO DISCUSSION AND DEBATE FORUMS with INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY LEADERS with lots of opportunity for QUESTIONS AND COMMENT FROM THE CONFERENCE FLOOR The Draft conference programme can be downloaded at http://www.global-hydrogen-bus-platform.com/InformationCentre/Downloads You can register now by visiting WWW.HYFLEET-CUTE-FINAL-CONFERENCE.COM

EREC, in co-operation with the Swedish Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications will organize the 3rd European Renewable Energy Policy Conference on 16 and 17 November 2009, in Brussels. More than 800 participants from all over Europe are expected to platform for dialogue between the renewable energy industry and the political level. The conference will bring together ministers and high-level decision makers from all EU Member States, the European Commission and the European Parliament. For more on information about the programme and the registration click here

Air Products’ hydrogen fueling technology was formally dedicated at a ceremony today as partof an alternative fuel, green energy initiative led by the Town of Hempstead. Air Products is a member of the project team establishing Long Island’s first hydrogen fueling station, along with the Town of Hempstead, the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA), National Grid, and Proton Energy Systems. “We are very excited to be at the forefront of an innovative project that explores what we can do to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and improve our environment,” Supervisor Murray said. “Hempstead Town‘s hydrogen fueling station will demonstrate how hydrogen gas can be used effectively and safely as a source of energy that provides a potential solution to environmental degradation.” Hempstead Town’s new fueling station is a major research and demonstration project that will help to assess the viability of hydrogen and HCNG as alternative fuels, with the goal of identifying cleaner alternatives to gasoline that will reduce fossil fuel dependency. It is the first hydrogen fueling station on Long Island, and the fifth station in the New York metropolitan area. Presently, the two closest stations are located in JFK Airport and the City of [...]

Air Liquide’s latest hydrogen production unit began operations on the site of ConocoPhillips’ San Francisco refinery in Rodeo, California, on the north eastern shore of the San Francisco Bay. The 142,000 Nm3/h* steam methane reformer (SMR), owned and operated by Air Liquide Large Industries U.S L.P, is one of the largest hydrogen units in operation in the United States. “Air Liquide’s hydrogen business in the U.S. has grown in step with market demand to reliably meet the needs of our customers. We continue to build our hydrogen infrastructure in support of the evolving energy sector, a growth driver for Air Liquide.” said Michael J. Graff, member of Air Liquide Group’s Executive Committee and president and CEO of American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc. Air Liquide continues, by this way, to grow its hydrogen activities in the U.S. to reliably supply refiners with this essential gas used to convert heavy crude oil into diesel, jet fuel and gasoline and to further remove sulphur from these products. These low sulphur transportation fuels meet the most stringent worldwide environmental regulations. More information here

By March 2010, Air Products will install the first ever 24-hour self service hydrogen fuelling station in Hürth, Germany. The station will allow bus drivers to refuel their vehicles around the clock and for future use, Air Products will design and incorporate the safety systems to allow it to be used more broadly for hydrogen vehicles, 24 hours a day. The intent is to normalize a hydrogen fueling station with other stations that sell gasoline or diesel fuel.  By 2015, Germany intends to have 1,000 hydrogen fueling station spread throughout the country. The region offers ideal conditions for developing hydrogen infrastructure as seven local industrial plants produce hydrogen as a by-product Just 8% of the hydrogen by-product generated by the industrial plants could operate more than 500 buses or 40,000 cars full time. “Until now hydrogen fuelling stations have been unique, custom-made installations which have a high price. We aim, where appropriate, to commence cost-effective series production across all our markets on the basis of the Hürth fuelling system and thereby eliminate one of the main obstacles to a universal roll out of hydrogen infrastructure.” said Ian Williamson, Hydrogen Energy Systems Director Air Products Europe. Crucially, the modular fuelling system [...]

The UK Carbon Trust has launched a bid for a breakthrough in fuel cell technology. The “Polymer Fuel Cells Challenge” aims to accelerate the commercialisation of breakthrough UK-technology for cost effective (mass) production of fuel cell powered cars and buses, as well as electricity and heat in homes and business. The initiative is seen as an opportunity to address the critical issues like durability and performance of current fuel cell systems in different applications and is supposed to achieve a reduction in fuel cell system costs through volume production and advancement in technology. The Carbon Trust is focussing on polymer fuel cells (PEM technology basis) as they are the most commonly-used and can be applied in different products including the ones with a strong prospect for carbon savings like cars, buses and combined heat and power. Innovative ideas on the development, proving and commercialising of new polymer fuel cell technologies will be funded by the Polymer Fuel Cell Challenge with all in all £8 million (EUR 9 million). The closing date for submission of an expression of interest is Friday, 20 November 2009, 3 pm. More information on the challenge here

French car maker Renault SA and its Japanese alliance partner Nissan Motor Co plan to build two factories in the U.K. and Portugal to produce lithium-ion batteries for future models of electric vehicles. The announcement is in line with the stated ambition of the alliance to become the leading volume producer of zero-emission vehicles in the next decade. Nissan will start offering electric vehicles in the U.S. and Japan in 2011 and the alliance plans to start mass-marketing electrical vehicles in 2011. Electric vehicle production is in its infancy at present, but the alliance reckons that by 2020 electric vehicles will represent between 10% and 15% of the overall European market, or about one million vehicles. The U.K. plant will be located at Sunderland, north-east England, where Nissan already has a vehicle assembly plant. A decision on the location of the Portuguese facility is pending. It quoted U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown as saying that Sunderland, “could now be a strong contender to produce electric vehicles for Nissan in Europe, and we will continue to work with Nissan to ensure this happens.” The Renault-Nissan alliance is negotiating grants and loan guarantees totaling EUR200 million from the U.K. government to help [...]