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Polymer Fuel Cells Challenge launched by UK Carbon Trust

October 20, 2009

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

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International Short Course and Advanced Research Workshop – 19-23 October, Belfast, UK

19 Oct - 23 Oct, 2009

For more info please see below.

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The EC and 22 world leaders explore ways for the viability of Carbon Capture and Storage

October 15, 2009

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 [...]

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Anticipation of Change in the Automotive Industry, Brussels, 14 October 2009

14 Oct - 14 Oct, 2009

On 14 October 2009, CLEPA organizes the Final Dissemination event of the project: “Anticipation of Change in the Automotive Industry”, at the  European Parliament, Brussels.  During this forum, discussions will be about good practises in anticipating and managing change within companies and regions in the automotive industry . More information about the programme and registration on CLEPA website

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ETP Conference Gearing Research & Innovation to address Societal Challenges, Brussels 13 October 2009

13 Oct - 13 Oct, 2009

This conference will enable a first exchange of experiences and best practices on the contribution of European Technology Platforms to addressing societal challenges considered as key EU policy priorities. It also builds on the results of the first evaluation study on ETPs, carried out in 2008, which recommends: -Exploring the potential of ‘clustering’ ETPs around specific topics -Improving communication channels between ETPs and national research policy makers in order to harvest the potential of ETPs in terms of aligning priorities and mobilising resources for R&D and innovation. A group of experts has been convened to discuss the results of the evaluation study on ETPs; this group includes representatives from industry, national governments and civil society organisations. Their analysis of the recommendations of the study will be presented in this conference and frame the discussion in the parallel sessions. The objectives of the conference are: -Facilitating the work of ETPs in proposing research agendas tailored to meet the needs of current societal challenges -Bringing national research actors into the debate, disseminating best practices as regards interaction between ETPs and national research authorities (through mirror groups, national technology platforms, linkages between ETPs and Eureka clusters, linkages between ETPs and ERA-Nets, etc). More [...]

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UK supports Nissan battery plant in North East England

October 9, 2009

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 [...]

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EU launches online Strategic Energy Technologies (SET-Plan) Information System

October 8, 2009

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 [...]

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European Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Projects 1999-2002

October 8, 2009

DG Research published a detailed overview of fuel cell and hydrogen projects and thematic networks funded under the various Specific Programmes and covers the whole of the Fifth Framework Programme (1999-2002), ranging from basic research to large scale demonstration. The EHA for many years has been advocating the need for better access to publishable results of EU projects . The EHA maintains a database of project results for use by its members. The EU overview describes the activities directly undertaken by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission in these areas. Each project is summarised, listing the objectives of the project, the challenges faced, the approach taken, the exploitation and impact of the work and the results that have been achieved to date. Some of the projects described have only just started, some are ongoing and some are nearing completion. Each synopsis contains an information section where specific details can be found, including the contact point for further information.

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H2 and FC funding estimated to top € 5 bln. in 2013-2020 according to SET Plan Communication

October 7, 2009

A long awaited communication of the European Commission on the financing of the EU Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) came out  on  October 7th indicating a need to increase  EU annual private and public investment from €3 to €8 billion. The SET Plan is regarded  the technology pillar of the EU’s energy and climate policy. The financing plan, which was originally due out last year, was partly delayed due to the financial crisis, which required new thinking on how to reactivate growth, Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said. Furthermore, drawing up roadmaps for the various technologies took time, he added. The Commission, together with industry and the research community, has drawn up technology ‘roadmaps’ for 2010-2020 which identify key low carbon technologies with strong potential at EU level in six areas: wind, solar, electricity grids, bioenergy, carbon capture and storage (CCS) and sustainable nuclear fission. The additional costs would cover basic and applied research, demonstration and early market take up, excluding deployment activities. Besides, the “Smart Cities Initiative” a new initiative on energy efficiency for up to 30 cities has been proposed as first enabler for the mass market take–up of energy efficiency, renewables and energy network technologies. ” Up-grading investment in research in [...]

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EHA meets with DG Enterprise on EU Green Car Initiative

October 2, 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 [...]

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