McPhy Energy has announced that the company has signed a contract with the Iwatani Corporation to supply a 4 kilogram solid hydrogen storage solution.
The European Commission on March 28, 2011 presented its new White Paper “Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system”
The European Commission on March 8 2011 adopted a plan for saving more energy through concrete measures.
In its Communication “Energy 2020 – A strategy for competitive, sustainable and secure energy”, the Commission identified the Smart Cities Initiative for energy efficiency and for accelerating large scale deployment of innovative low carbon technologies. On 4 February 2011, the European Council invited the Commission to launch an Industrial Initiative inter alia on ‘energy saving solutions in cities’. In line with this guidance, the Smart Cities and Communities Initiative will initially rely on the organisational framework of the Strategic Energy Technology (SET)-Plan. In a next step, the Commission plans to create a stakeholder forum gathering the various stakeholders in this area and structuring their dialogue and their contribution to the initiative. At a later stage, the initiative may evolve into a European Innovation Partnership as envisaged by the Commission’s Communication on the Innovation Union of 6 October 2010. Stakeholders are invited to contribute to an online Consultation up to May 13, 2011.
The 2011 Norwegian Hydrogen Forum will be held March 29th in conjunction with the launch of 5 Think Hydrogen passenger cars in circulation in Norway. The vehicles are part of the HyNOR project which includes the building of a new hydrogen refuelling station in Lillestrom, Norway. The new station has begun building and is planned to be concluded in November of this year.
The Vehicles have 10kW FC (range extender) and a total range of 250 km. The 5 Thinks will be spread among various users including a local energy company, The Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), and one will be kept by the Norwegian Forum for car pooling.
..
..
..
The Geneva Auto Show 2011 took place March 3-16 2011, and as we have seen the “green vision” has become more of a reality at the Geneva Motor Show. In the PAVILLON VERT, 36 exhibitors presented no less than 17 world premieres. In the ESSAIS VERTS, 12 different brands are presenting a total of 13 different electrical vehicles, all of which can be test driven. Visitors viewing the CHEMIN VERT can discover the “new mobility” throughout the entire trade show. This year two Fuel Cell Vehicles were exhibited: the Honda FCX Clarity, for the first time in Europe, and the IEFCV Aryana 800. More information about the Geneva Auto Show show can be find on the official website: www.salon-auto.ch
On March 15 2011 a seminar within the European Parliament took place titled, “Hydrogen: Powering Europe’s Future Energy & Mobility”. The event, organised by the ALDE political group, address two main issues: EU and national legal framework and the private initiatives that may lead the way to hydrogen in the European energy and transport system. Presentations were given from officials of the European Commission, The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, organisations NOW, HyER (formerly HyRaMP), EHA, Eurelectric and the Bulgarian H2 Society. The event was concluded with the understanding need to increase funding and actions in hydrogen research, especially in the field of hydrogen production from renewable sources. Europe should continue to seek market leadership on a global scale. keeping in perspective the positions of Asian and North American countries. The presentations may be found in the downloads section of this post.
The terrible news of the natural disaster in Japan has pointed all eyes to the safety of nuclear power plants. The extremely serious accidents in the Japanese nuclear power station at Fukushima involved a number of hydrogen explosions.
On 2 February 2011 the European Commission adopted a new strategy document which sets out targeted measures to secure and improve access to raw materials for the EU. Based on the first Communication on the Raw Materials Initiative published in November 2008, this new strategy document further pursues and reinforces the 3 pillar-based approach to improving access to Raw Materials for Europe. These pillars are: 1. Fair and sustainable supply of raw materials from international markets 2. Fostering sustainable supply within the EU 3. Boosting resource efficiency and promote recycling This new strategy also covers important considerations relating to the stability and transparency of commodity prices. View the Communication Tackling the Challenges in Commodity Markets and on Raw Materials.
The seminar, organized by Haus der Technik, will discuss the energy-strategic aspects of hydrogen, and its applications, and presented on the bases on the latest studies (eg, VDE, DWV). The seminar will also focus on the hydrogen safety and the political environment both at European and National level. A selection of completed or planned projects will illustrate not only the opportunities but also the current state of development. More information see: House of Technology