European Hydrogen Association » 2011

Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Calls for Tenders: Commercialisation Studies

November 19, 2011

The European Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) has now launched a call for tenders for consultancies able to conduct studies on the commercialisation of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies and competing technologies.
The FCH JU envisages commissioning studies in different sectors where fuel cells and hydrogen technologies are the most promising:
Urban buses
Passenger cars, including EU-wide roll-out of infrastructure
Stationary applications
Material Handling
For each sector, the studies will be supported by a coalition of industrial actors.

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6th Annual Zero Emission Conference

21 Nov - 22 Nov, 2011

The sixth annual Zero Emission Conference is to be held November 21-22, 2011 in Clarion Hotel Oslo Airport, Gardermoen. The ZeroEmission Conference is the largest of its kind in Scandinavia. The two day programme spans across a wide range of topics and perspectives, from the visions to the specific solutions. Is Green Growth Possible? What does a green economy look like? The strain on the climate and our limited resources grows with the global population and economic development. Is our economic system capable of meeting the challenge? Is economic growth an obstacle or a prerequisite for finding the solutions? And will stronger climate policies destroy businesses or be a source of new business opportunities? For more information about the conference and the special guests see: ZERO2011

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Status Report for German National Innovation Programme for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology

November 17, 2011

Climate change objectives can be achieved only when more efficient engines and emission-free fuels are implemented into the transport sector simultaneously with increased energy efficiency of buildings. To a large extent, potential for efficiency savings are assisted by products that include hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and can complement the currently known mobility and energy supply solutions. Supported by the public sector, industry and academia are working diligently to prepare the market of these technologies. The German National Innovation Programme for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology – NIP – are providing for the period 2006 to 2016 a total of 1.4 billion euros. These funds come from the budgets of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (€ 700 million) and the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (200 million euros), plus € 700 million capital contribution of the industry. At the center of politics, industry and science, NOW GmbH National Organisation Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology, can achieve the successful implementation of the program and its content. NIP implementation status in figures Since the founding of NOW in 2008, 393 million euros of funding tied was to specific projects. Using funds from the BMWi: 69 projects 159 individual projects, € 28 million funding Funds [...]

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EHA Mission

November 17, 2011

In 2000 five national hydrogen organisations established the European Hydrogen Association (EHA) and started a close collaboration to promote the use of hydrogen as an energy vector in Europe. In 2004 major European industries active in the development of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies joined the EHA and enforced this effort to create a commercial market for stationary and transport applications and a role as market leader for the European hydrogen and fuel cell sector. The EHA currently represents 20 national hydrogen and fuel cell organisations and the main European companies active in the hydrogen infrastucture development. Its unique membership structure has enabled the EHA to have up-close insight in local developments and to communicate important issues regarding industrial and regulatory needs to key decision makers at EU level. Since 2008 the EHA is hosting the European Regions and Municipalities Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, HyER (formerly HyRaMP). The missions of the Association are defined as follows: 1. Information 1.1. Internal Collect relevant information and circulate it between members (scientific, economical and technical, laws and regulations, requests for proposals, events, etc.). Encourage exchanges and joint actions between members. 1.2. External Identify and advertise hydrogen-related capabilities existing in Europe (not [...]

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Battle lines drawn ahead of 2013 ‘Year of Air’

November 16, 2011

Environment Commissioner Janez Poto?nik wants 2013 to be the “Year of Air” and is pushing for stronger air quality laws across the European Union. But with many member states failing to enforce current rules, the commissioner could face an uphill battle. The European Commission has begun a comprehensive review of existing laws that could lead within a year to changes in the 2008 air quality directive. The directive is credited, along with a host of other pollution-related laws, in steady improvements in air quality since the EU started setting standards in the 1990s. Still, major challenges lie ahead. Levels of some noxious pollutants are on the rise after a decade of declines, and a new report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that more than 95% of city residents in the European Union regularly breathe ozone levels that exceed the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended levels. “It’s very clear we’ve been able to reduce emissions but that those emissions have not translated into ambient air quality,” Jacqueline McGlade, who heads the Copenhagen-based EEA, said recently in Brussels. “We have in Europe put in place fairly aggressive targets to reduce emissions,” she said, “but actually what we now understand is that [...]

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Isle of Wight EcoIsland Project Integrates Renewables, Utilises Fuel Cells and Hydrogen

November 14, 2011

EcoIsland is an initiative to make the UK’s Isle of Wight a demonstrator of future energy systems and smart grid technology; it is the largest single sustainability project in the UK. To date the project has delivered a £25 million project to install solar PV panels on 3,500 social homes and more than 500 air-source heat pumps, as well as a ‘Greenback’ consumer reward card in collaboration with 65 local companies with good sustainability practices that helps residents save up to £400 a year. On 15th November the EcoIsland Partnership Community Interest Company (CIC) will launch as a Global Innovation Centre for smart grid technology. Partnering with IBM and Toshiba the CIC plans to integrate the island’s future wind, tidal, geothermal and solar power, which may reduce fuel bills on the island by up to 50%. ITM Power will provide the hydrogen storage for the trials and CIC chief executive David Green explained to Fuel Cell Today how fuel cells and hydrogen will tie into the project. A demonstration ‘smart house’ will have a HFill home hydrogen vehicle refueller; there will also be up to four larger-scale 100 kg hydrogen generators for commercial and domestic trials with FCEV and HICE vehicles [...]

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Grid operators and environmental organisations team up to promote sustainable modernisation of electricity grids

November 14, 2011

The unlocking of Europe’s full potential for renewable energy via the modernisation and expansion of its power grids should go hand-in-hand with nature conservation efforts, said a coalition of Europe’s largest grid operators and environmental organisations. The “European Grid Declaration on Electricity Network Development and Nature Conservation in Europe” was handed to European Commissioner for Energy Günther H. Oettinger in Brussels on 10 November 2011 - at the European Grid Conference in Brussels. In October, the European Commission put forward a draft law making it easier to build and finance cross-border power lines, which are essential to making Europe’s energy system greener. The coalition of grid operators and civil society organisations supports Europe’s ambition to boost renewable electricity and cut carbon emissions. Read the full press release including quotes and the full text of the European Grid Declaration including the list of inaugural signatories. More information: Renewable Grid Initiative

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Element One's new H-Series fuel reforming hydrogen generator

Element One Ships New H-Series Fuel Reforming Hydrogen Generators

November 14, 2011

American fuel reformer manufacturer Element One (e1) has announced the commencement of deliveries of its new H-Series fuel reforming hydrogen generators. The H-Series models supersede the company’s first generation Pegasus model and will be sold in three capacities: H13, H35 and H65, meeting the hydrogen flow requirements of 1 to 5 kW PEMFC. The new products are the result of a year of testing new technologies, design refinement which has led to a reduction in the complexity and cost of the systems. These efforts allow for more efficient system manufacturing, easier system maintenance and significantly reduced operating costs for the end user, the company claims. A typical target user would be a telecom operator; e1’s solution allows for on-site hydrogen production from a methanol/water input at telecoms sites and other UPS applications. Source: FuelCellToday

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Air Liquide and Plug Power to develop the market for hydrogen-powered forklift trucks in Europe

November 14, 2011

Among all the markets for hydrogen energy that of fuel-cell powered forklift trucks is today the fastest growing one. The creation of a joint venture between Plug Power and Air Liquide will rely on the GenDrive® fuel cell solution from Plug Power, world leader in fuel cells for forklift trucks, for developing, manufacturing and marketing a range of fuel cells for forklift trucks in Europe. The potential development of this market in Europe could be around 10,000 units by 2015. An overall package that is totally clean, composed of the GenDrive fuel cell associated with hydrogen supplied by Air Liquide filling stations, would be offered to the European market. Used in a fuel cell, hydrogen combines with oxygen from the air to produce electricity, discharging only water. In the context of the Group’s Blue Hydrogen approach, this hydrogen will be gradually produced without discharge of CO2. Source: Air Liquide

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H2moves Scandinavia to launch a new hydrogen fuelling station in Oslo

21 Nov - 21 Nov, 2011

On the 21st of November the H2moves Scandinavia is going to present a new hydrogen refueling station to a large number of policy makers, car manufacturers and press in Gaustad, Oslo. The new refueling station is built by the Danish company H2Logic with the support from EU FCH-JU program, Transnova (Norway) and EUDP (Denmark). Fabian Stang, mayor of Oslo will open the event with his speech. “Yet another station in Oslo shows that car manufacturers are interested in investing in hydrogen and that Norway is one of the important places for the early market” says Bjørn Simonsen, Chairman of Norway’s Hydrogen Highway Project. The opening of the Gaustad refueling station is part of a large-scale Hydrogen Road Tour project scheduled for summer 2012 when H2moves Scandinavia’s members will drive across Europe with 6 -10 electric cars powered by fuel cells. The drivers will cross Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Germany and finish their tour in Brussels. This project aims at gaining customer acceptance for use of electric, hydrogen and fuel cell-powered vehicles by offering public tests in designated cities. After the opening of the Gaustad Hydrogen Refueling station the delegates and press will have the chance to test drive Fuel Cell Electric [...]

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