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EU Commission presents progress in renewable energy uptake

January 31, 2011

The transposition of the EU Renewable Energy Directive on December 5, 2010 and the adoption of the National Renewable Energy Action Plans provided a comprehensive and binding regulatory framework, according to a new EU Communication presented on January 31, 2011, that is proving catalytic in driving forward  renewable energy development to achieve the ambitious targets that the EU has set itself. The  recent high growth rates have resulted in renewable energy constituting 62% of 2009 energy generation investments. The EU Commission’s Communication (COM2011/31) includes an overview of  the renewable energy industry in Europe, its prospects to 2020 and addresses the outstanding challenges for the development of the sector.  The Communication presents an overview of  the renewable energy industry in Europe, its prospects to 2020 and addresses the outstanding challenges for the development of the sector, including progress on 10% renewable energy in transport target for 2020. The use of electricity sources (renewable or otherwise) and hydrogen in road transport was still negligible in 2008: none of the 27 National Renewable Energy Action Plan included a reference to hydrogen. The Commission  invites Member States to implement the National Renewable Energy Action Plans, streamline infrastructure planning regimes, make faster progress in developing the electricity grid to balance higher [...]

Introduction

January 31, 2011

As the EHA is entering its second decade of promoting hydrogen as a clean and flexible fuel, marked with a re-vamped website, EU policy makers increasingly consider the requirements of the use of hydrogen in their new policy. The report of the Commission’s Future Transport Fuels  Expert Group (see under EU Policy), that was presented on Janaury 25 by EU Transport Commissioner Kallas, to which the EHA contributed, included a large section on the role of hydrogen in decarbonizing Europe’s transport.  The EHA, together with the FCH JU, NEW IG and HyER (formerly HyRaMP) sent a joint letter to the EU Energy Council of February 4 to draw EU ministers’ attention to the role of hydrogen in  making grids smarter and help solve the considerable energy storage needs  Europe’s electricity system will be  facing in the next decades. This will also be the topic of an EU Parliament seminar on March 16, 2011, sponsored by the ALDE Group to which the EHA is invited to contribute.

European Commission prepares the European Strategic Transport Technology Plan

January 31, 2011

The European Commission will be holding a series of hearings up till March 2011 which will take place to collect input for the elaboration of the STTP. This will involve transport operators, users, the industry, technology platforms, representatives of the research community and other stakeholders. Participation in these hearings will be by invitation only. In addition, an internet consultation will be organised. It will also launch a wide consultation process, actively involving stakeholders. The STTP is planned to be publish within the summer of this year.

EHA contributes to European Council letter in view of special Energy Council Meeting

January 31, 2011

In view of the thematic European Council of 4 February on Energy and Innovation, EHA in a joint effort with the Joint Task force for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, wrote a letter on January 31st to the European Council members underlining the significant and broad role fuel cell and hydrogen technology play in the EU’s shift towards an efficient low carbon economy.
The letter also reviews the connection of fuel cell and hydrogen to the four large scale initiative announced in the EU Energy 2020 Communication- Smart Grids, Energy Storage, Large scale biofuel production, and Smart Cities.
The task force includes organisations:  Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, Industry Grouping for Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Technology (NEW-IG), Fuel Cell Europe, The European Regions and Municipalites Partnership for hydrogen and fuel cells, (HyRaMP) and The European Hydrogen Association (EHA).

Linde selected as exclusive partner for Mercedes-Benz hydrogen world tour

January 31, 2011

The technology group The Linde Group has been selected by Mercedes-Benz as the exclusive hydrogen partner for the F-CELL World Drive. This endurance trip will send three B-Class F-CELL hydrogen-powered fuel-cell cars right around the world. Over the entire tour, Linde will be the sole supplier of mobile hydrogen (H2) for the zero-emissions F-CELL models. Due to start on 30 January from Stuttgart, Germany, the trip will take each of the cars around 30,000 kilometres across four continents and 14 countries in 125 days. “We are excited at the opportunity to partner with Mercedes-Benz and help showcase the capabilities of hydrogen-powered cars,” said Professor Dr Wolfgang Reitzle, Chief Executive Officer of Linde AG. “Many years of experience in hydrogen technologies make us the partner of choice for both stationary and mobile refuelling facilities – even in the most challenging environments. Through projects such as the F-CELL World Drive, we are helping to accelerate the widespread establishment of a hydrogen infrastructure.” Specially for the tour, Linde and Mercedes-Benz co-developed a new mobile 700-bar refuelling unit based on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. This houses all the technology required to compress and fuel H2 on the move. Key design criteria included 700-bar refuelling pressure [...]

After 125 automobile years, the fuel cell car will tour the world in 125 days

January 30, 2011

January 29, 2011 marks 125 years of automotive history; it was in 1886 that Carl Benz received the patent for the first motor car, heralding the birth of the automobile. From January 30, 2011, in addition to experiencing 125 years of automotive history, visitors to the Mercedes-Benz Museum can discover the answers to questions about the drive technologies of the future in the newly designed exhibition room Legend 6: ‘New start – The Road to Emission-free Mobility’. On the same day the Mercedes F-Cell took of on 125 day tour around the world.

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Hydrogen vehicle lease now available in Oslo

January 30, 2011

If you live in Oslo, you can now lease a hydrogen car!
Hynor currently has a Mazda RX8 that runs on hydrogen. It can be refilled at Økern Statoil in Oslo and Drammen. This is a rare opportunity to showcase your business while trying out a hydrogen propelled vehicle!
For more information: Contact Benjamin Myklebust at ZERO (benjamin@zero.no)

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3 New Fuel Cell Hydrogen Buses now in Service in London

January 28, 2011

Under the Clean Hydrogen In European Cities project (CHIC), 3 new Fuel Cell Hydrogen  buses are now in service in London! By the end of 2011 there will be a total of 8  Fuel Cell  Hydrogen (FCH) buses running in the city. The new buses, which were designed specially for London, are now carrying passengers on the RV1 route– which takes passengers in Covent Garden, the Tower of London and the South Bank. Transport for London, the CHIC partner base in London, is reminding passengers that the application of these buses will provide better quality breathing air to London residents. Overall, it’s a clean ride for Londoners. HyER (formerly HyRaMP) is dissemination partner for the CHIC project. The HyER (formerly HyRaMP) secretariat is run by EHA. For more information on the CHIC project see: www.chic-project.eu

Energy-efficient vehicles at the 2011 Washington Auto Show

28 Jan - 6 Feb, 2011

The Washington Auto Show is currently taking place beginning on  January 28 to February 6. It is one of the most important vehicle exhibitions in the world, with more than 700 new makes and models of cars, trucks, mini-vans and sport utility vehicles from over 42 domestic and foreign automakers. The Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA) sponsors the auto show each year to entice, educate and entertain hundreds of thousands of consumers. The latest innovations in alternative fuels will take center stage at the 2011 Washington Auto Show, in the Advanced Technology SuperHighway, a 65,000 square foot showcase of the latest innovations in safety and sustainability. The exhibit will be sectioned by advancements in electric, diesel, natural gas, advanced petroleum, biofuels, ethanol, hydrogen and safety technologies. Displaying more green cars than any other domestic, tier-one auto show, The Washington Auto Show’s Advanced Technology SuperHighway presents the show’s most ambitious effort to support and promote progressive innovations for the automotive industry. This year three Fuel Cell Vehicles will be exhibited: the Honda FCX Fuel Cell EV, the Mazda RX8 Hydrogen RE and the Toyota Highlander Hydrogen. More news about the show can be find in the official website: www.washingtonautoshow.com

Central and Eastern European Power Opportunities for Growth and Investment

27 Jan - 28 Jan, 2011

Platts 5th Annual Central and Eastern European Power conference will once again gather the region’s leading power companies, power plant developers, regulators, traders and solution providers to discuss what needs to be done to create a sustainable and demand delivering generation mix and assess whether the economic downturn and reduced investment has compromised its ability to meet future demand. Key Note Speakers include: Philip Lowe, Director-General, DG Energy, European Commission Alan Svoboda, Executive Director, Sales and Trading, CEZ Group Monika Morawiecka, Head of Strategy, PGE András Péntek, Head of Portfolio Management, Corporate Business Development Division, MOL Group For more information See: Platts