EHA in Action

EHA was present at the recent Stakeholder’s Conference on the Future of Energy Policy on September 30th in Brussels. The European Commission presented the results of the Energy Strategy 2011-2020 Consultation, and various industry representatives gave their views on how to achieve a low carbon energy system.  Opening the Conference, European Comissioner  for Energy, Gunther Oettinger,  gave insight on  his priorities in the coming energy strategy.  Within his speech, he continued to emphasize that his first priority is to put into place a new energy efficiency action plan pushing toward most efficient energy technologies, Smart Grids, and Improvement in Energy Storage.

The EHA and HyER (formerly HyRaMP) are organizing a “Large Hydrogen Infrastructure Development”  seminar on October 20,2010 in the Palais des Academies, Rue Ducale, 1 2010 in Brussels that will highlight the main technical,  financial and regulatory issues regarding hydrogen production and refuelling build-up (see programme above). Key EU offiicials will present the dossiers that will affect this development in the coming years. Participation is free but registration is mandatory at info@h2euro.org

The EHA has been involved in two EU Commission Working Groups in two different Directorates  that are dealing with importnat aspects of hydrogen deployment in transport. The Working Group Hydrogen is finalizing the safety measures in hte implementation guidelines of the EU Regulation on the type-approval for hydrogen powered vehicles cars. This work has been carried out since the Regulation was adopted. The Regulation type-approval process will come online in 2012.  The Group is also looking at the environmental measures. The work is scheduled to be finalized by this November. The EHA has been asked to submit topics for future activities in this Group. The EHA is also involved in the Work on the Future Transport Fuels Group of DG MOVE to identify the role of different fuesl in the fuutre. THe EHA is collaborating with the JTI to ensure that the hydrogen’s is  addressed satisfactually.  Key EU officials responsibel for these two groups  have confirmed that particpation in the EHA -HyER (formerly HyRaMP) third Infrastructure Seminar that is being held on October 20. Registration is open by emails to the EHA secretariat at info@h2euro.org

Under the 7th Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration (FP7), DG Energy published on 20 July 2010 a call for proposals opening several topics to support the SET-Plan European Industrial Initiatives. The Energy National Contact Points organise on 17 November 2010 a Brokerage Event in Brussels, for triggering partnerships of entities intending to submit a proposal. The programme and registration modalities can be found on the event’s website. An important opic on eenrgy storage is included and the EHA is currently investigating potential consortia to include hydrogen storage solutions in one of the proposals.

During the September plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Scottish Conservative MEP Struan Stevenson,  test-driving the Honda FCX Clarity. The car has a top speed of over 100 mph and can do 350 miles on a single hydrogen charge. Mr. Stevenson cautioned against the SNP Scottish Government’s new target for 80% of electricity being generated from renewables by 2020 from becoming a fixation with inefficient windfarms. The wind in Scotland blows enough for wind turbines to produce electricity only around 27% of the time. In the cold snap last spring, we experienced widespread high pressure and low wind speeds across the country. For several days, Britain’s wind turbines, said to be capable of delivering 5% of our electricity, in fact delivered only 0.2%.” Mr. Stevenson added “We need to invest a lot more resources into developing the hydrogen economy which, I believe, will be the next great Industrial Revolution.”

Mississauga, Ontario, Canada – September 20, 2010 – Hydrogenics Corporation (NASDAQ: HYGS; TSX: HYG), a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products, today announced the award of an electrolyzer and related equipment and services for a fueling station in Belgium.  The facility was procured by WaterstofNet, an organization established by the governments of Flanders and southern Netherlands within the context of the European Interreg Program, which coordinates the implementation of hydrogen throughout the region.  The station will provide hydrogen for forklifts, buses, and other vehicles.  Hydrogenics will install a HySTAT-30 unit, compressor, storage equipment, and accessories, with the station capable of supporting about 60 kilograms of hydrogen fuel daily.

Fuel Cell Europe will be hosting a workshop on fuel cells and hydrogen in Brussels at the Euro Keys sprl premises on the 15th of Septemeber 2010. This workshop will focus on fuel cells for Uninterruptible Power Supply, in particular for back-up and stand alone power applications. Speakers and participants will debate about the market perspectives and strategies for the deployment of fuel cells technologies for UPS, in applications such as Data centers, Hospitals, Telecom or Public security related organisations. Emphasis will also be placed on sharing best practices and discussing the state of the art of fuel cell technologies for UPS. For more information see link: here

Air Products is proud to announce that it will fuel a wide variety of hydrogen-powered vehicles, which will be taking part in the Ride and Drive event at the Low Carbon Vehicle (LCV2010) event. LCV2010 will take place on 15th and 16th September at the Millbrook Proving Ground, Bedfordshire. We will be delighted to welcome you at our stand (number 8), where we can discuss the benefits of hydrogen transport and introduce you to the many global hydrogen projects in which Air Products are involved. For more info on the event please visit http://www.cenex.co.uk/

The 4th International Conference on Hydrogen Safety (ICHS) 2011 will be held in San Francisco, California on September 12-14, 2011 under the auspices of the International Association for Hydrogen Safety (IA-HySafe). The conference will be hosted by Sandia National Laboratories and will improve public awareness and trust in hydrogen technologies by communicating a better understanding of both the hazards and risks associated with hydrogen and their management. Since the ICHS 2011 will focus on safety issues and measures to encourage more extensive use of hydrogen-based technologies, its contents will be different from other hydrogen conferences.    Contact : www.ICHS2011.com

WHTC is a biennial event organised under the auspices of the International Association of Hydrogen Energy (IAHE). This, the 4th WHTC event, takes place at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) on the banks of the River Clyde, in the heart of Glasgow. Please visit  www.whtc2011.org.uk for more info.