EU Policy News

During The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative convened the 3rd Stakeholders General Assembly on the 9th of November 2010. The audience was addressed by a representative of each European institution including a very supportive video address made my Commissioner for Research Màrie Geoghegan-Quinn. Ms.Quinn gave emphasis on innovation and explained, “Innovation is the cornerstone” and thus the policy process needs to back innovators to get from ideas to products. On that note she introduced the Innovation Union Flagship Initiative, one of the seven EU flagship initiatives proposed to move towards the goals of the ‘EU2020 strategy’ released by the Commission on 3 March 2010. The Innovation Union’s 3 objectives are: Creating world class science base, To revolutionise the way public and private sectors work together, notably through Innovation Partnerships, Concerted and determined to clear bottlenecks which prevent new ideas to make it to the market. For more information see: Innovation Union

The 2010 edition of the World Energy Outlook (WEO) was released on 9 November and it provides updated projections of energy demand, production, trade and investment, fuel by fuel and region by region to 2035. It includes, for the first time, a new scenario that anticipates future actions by governments to meet the commitments they have made to tackle climate change and growing energy insecurity. WEO-2010 also puts the spotlight on several topical issues, including what more must be done and spent post-Copenhagen to limit the global temperature increase to 2°C and how these actions would impact oil markets; how emerging economies – led by China and India – will increasingly shape the global energy landscape; the costs and benefits of increasing renewable energy, the outlook for Caspian energy markets and their implications for global energy supply, the future role for unconventional oil and the crucial importance of energy in achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals.

The European Commission launched the first call for proposals on November 9 of NER300, that will provide substantial financial support for at least eight projects involving carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies and at least 34 projects involving innovative renewable energy technologies.  The European Investment Bank (EIB) is collaborating with the Commission in the implementation of the programme. Companies interested in making proposals have 3 months to submit bids at national level. Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said: “The NER300 is a good example that together, EU 27 can do more than we can individually. Through using revenues from selling of CO2 allowances, around €4.5 billion will be available for innovative renewable energy technologies and CCS. With project sponsors and Member States contributions this will sum up to €9 billion. The NER300 initiative will act as a catalyst for the demonstration of new low carbon technologies on a commercial scale. These and other green technologies are an increasingly important source of future economic growth and jobs. They will also help us meet our ambitious climate targets for 2020 and beyond” The first call for proposals signals the start of implementation of the NER300 initiative. The initiative is so named because [...]

CHIC, the Clean Hydrogen in European Cities Project, is the essential next step to full market commercialization of hydrogen powered fuel cell (H2FC) buses. The project will facilitate the integration of 26 H2FC buses in daily operations and busroutes in five cities across Europe. Supported by transport authorities in Aargau (Switzerland), Bolzano (Italy), London (GB), Milan (Italy), and Oslo (Norway) and the EU Joint Undertaking for Fuel Cells and Hydrogen (FCH JU), The project is based on a staged introduction and build-up of H2FC bus fleets, the supporting hydrogen refuelling stations and infrastructure to facilitate the smooth integration of the H2FC buses in Europe’s public transport. The CHIC Kick off event took place on November 4 , 2010 in Cologne.:  26 partners signed the CHIC Mission Statement, commiting to put 26 fuel cell hybride buses in regular service by 2012.  The presentations from the event may be found below. The project will link experienced and new cities in partnerships, allowing for an effective and smooth introduction of the new systems now and into the future. In addition, the project will tie in with similar projects fully funded from other sources, thereby multiplying the impact of the FCH JU program. The [...]

The BBC  featured the  annual  RAC Brighton to London Future Car Challenge taking off 6 November for a 60 mile drive from Brighton to London. Designed as a partner event for the long-established Veteran Car Run, the Future Car Challenge is an annual rally focussing on future technology. The Toyota FCHV-adv and Honda FCX Clarity covered the fuel cell hydrogen part of electric vehicles participating in the event. It was the first time that  the Toyota FCHV-adv hit the Briutish roads, its road testing is well advanced and Toyota is on course to bring its FCHV-adv model to market in 2015. If you’re in London’s West End’s Regent Street on Saturday afternoon, you’ll be able to see FCHV-adv alongside the rest of Toyota’s entries. Head for where all the Future Car Challenge vehicles will be on display alongside their vintage counterparts. The Toyota and Honda fuel cell cars will also be particpating in the annual Drive and Ride of the EU fuel cell and hydrogen porgramme on November 9 and 10 in Brussels. See more under Events.

The RAC Future Car Challenge is a  new motoring challenge for electric, hybrid and low-emission Cars, LCV’s and Motorcycles to use the lowest energy on a 60 mile route from Madeira Drive, Brighton to Pall Mall and Regent Street, London. This year the Toyota  FCHV_adv and Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell cars made their debut on UK roads. Both cars should hit the market in 2015. The Honda and Toyota cars will be also participating in the Drive and Ride of the General Stakeholders Meeting of the EU Joint Undertaking for fuel cells and hydrogen taking place novemebr 9-10 in Brussels; see also under “Events”. The BBC featured the Honda FCX Clarity in its evening news, pointing however to an unclear market perspective for fuel cell cars: more “clarity” on the market perspectives of fuel cell and other eletric drive trains is anticipated to come out of a McKinsey study that will present its first preliminary results on November 8 in Brussels.

The Norwegian public transport company of Diamonds, linked to HyNor Oslo Airport project, chose the French company Air Liquide to supply a new hydrogen fueling station. Akersuhs Country Authority, Oslo Kommune, Norway Research Council and Trans-Nova supports the project and there are also an EU contribution. Construction of the station will cost 31 million NOK. The hydrogen station will be located at the bus depot in Rosenholm, where also the hydrogen will be produced by electrolysis from renewable energy sources. Would there be an interruption in production, so that fuel shortages occur, there is the possibility that a couple of hours delivering hydrogen from Air Liquide facility in Swedish Surat. In Surat is also the control centre that monitors station days runt. Till initially, only buses to fill up at the bus garage, but in time it can be opened even for hydrogen – powered cars. Source: vatgas.se

«Cryogen-Expo» has annually been carried out since 2002 and is the only international specialized exhibition in Russia dedicated to the cryogenic technologies which visually demonstrates the achievements of the cryogenic branch. The Exhibition is aimed to establish and strengthen international cooperation and business contacts in the field of cryogenics, to exchange experience, to develop and implement cryogenic technologies applied. The Russian and foreign market leaders demonstrate the innovation cryogenic technologies and modern patterns of the cryogenic engineering: Air Separation Plants; Cryostats; Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Gas Units; Carbon Dioxide Production; Hydrogen Technologies; Globe Valves and Fittings; Cryogenic Vacuum Technical Equipment; Controlling and Measuring Apparatus. The following companies will take part in the 8th exhibition: Linde AG, Cryogenmash, Air Liquide JSC, Ferox A. S., International Group Rare Gases, ACD Cryo, VRV Group, Giprokislorod, Siad, Trade House Sibcryomarket, Vanzetti Engineering, Hydrogen Technologies, Ural Compressor Plant, Cryostar, Grasys CJSC, WITT Gasetechnik GmbH & Co KG, Monitoring Ventil & Fitting Ltd, Monitoring LLC, Taylor Wharton International, etc. For more information about the exhibition see Cryogen-Expo web site

The International Expo for Sustainable Energy and Mobility, Keyenergy 2010, taking place in Rimini Italy from 3-6 November 2010,  will include a workshop   focused on hydrogen with 3 sub topics: hydrogen production,  hydrogen vehicle applications and stationary applications. The workshop will take place 4 November from 10 am to 6pm. The workshop will discuss systems and technologies that permit hydrogen production from renewable sources and its utilization in energy systems with low environmental impact. Speakers, from italian university and energy companies, will highlight new research findings on the use of hydrogen similar to the “full power” and  “range extender” applied in  electric vehicles. For more information visit keyenergy

On 8th November in Brussels, FuelCellEurope will organise a session on “Hydrogen Storage” exploring the technologies and applications of Hydrogen, as a energy carrier. This workshop will focus on hydrogen storage technologies and the potentials they can bring to sustainable energy systems in the future. During this workshop, emphasis will be placed on sharing visions and best practices, exchanging lessons learnt, as well as discussing the state of the art of technologies in this field. Speakers and participants will also debate about the opportunities and barriers of hydrogen storage for applications in renewable energy, energy management or the space and transport area. For more information see following link: http://fuelcelleurope.eurokeys.eu/