Events

The Third Polish Forum on Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Technologies will take place on November 29-30 2011 in Warsaw, Poland. This year it will focus on smart materials for hydrogen and renewable energy.  The forum will coincide with the Strategic Energy Technology Plan 2011 conference. This forum showcases the Polish achievements in development of new materials applicable in Fuel Cells, Hydrogen Technology and Renewable Energy areas. EHA will be there to present “EU policy and funding for the development of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies”. The scope of the conference: Hydrogen storage Fuel cells : PEMFC, SOFC Li-ion batteries Supercapacitors Fotovoltaics Photocatalyst for solar energy conversion Photoelectrochemical cells Source: 3rd Polish Forum on Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Technologies  

The kick-off of new vehicles demo projects under the FCH JU program throughout Europe this autumn, coincides with the launch by the EU Commission of new infrastructure programs that are increasingly referring to the need to start serious integration of low carbon technologies in Europe’s energy and transport system.
The presentation of the EU Connecting Europe Facility on October referred to a budget of € 50 bln to Energy ( € 9 bln), ICT ( € 9 bln) and Transport (€ 32 bln).
Especially the reference to the large budget for the Trans European Network for Transport (TEN T) program, that presented its new new Guidelines on the same date, should open opportunities for the integration of the first infrastructures for alternative fuels like hydrogen. The support of the EU Commission at the launch of HyER (former HyRaMP), ”Hydrogen, fuel cells and Electro-mobility in European Regions”, the association of local authorities hosted by the EHA on October 27 in Brussels is demonstrating that EU decision makers are looking to use the results of past and current demo projects to develop fact based policy and large scale programs to achieve the EU targets set out in the recent Transport White Paper. Linking the first hydrogen hubs that are being build up around the EU demonstration projects, along key corridors in Europe should therefore become part of national and regional strategic development. The EHA together with its 21 national member associations is ready to take on the challenge!

The Commission adopted on October 19, 2011 a proposal to transform the existing patchwork of European roads, railways, airports and canals into a unified transport network (TEN-T). The new core network will remove bottlenecks, upgrade infrastructure and streamline cross border transport operations for passengers and businesses throughout the EU. It will improve connections between different modes of transport and contribute to the EU’s climate change objectives. Art 10 on “Priorities” of the proposed new TEN T Guidelines states that “the Union, Member States, infrastructure managers and other project promoters, when developing the comprehensive network, shall give particular consideration to measures that are necessary for ensuring fuel security by allowing the use of alternative and in particular low or zero carbon energy sources and propulsion systems.

This proposal also aims at ensuring that strategic energy networks and storage facilities are completed by 2020 with 9,1 billion Euros for energy infrastructure priorities. To this end, the Commission has identified 12 priority corridors and areas covering electricity, gas, oil and carbon dioxide transport networks. It proposes a regime of “common interest” for projects contributing to implementing these priorities and having obtained this label. Energy storage projects will be included. It is not yet clear how much of the budget is dedicated to renewable energy infrastructure.

Fuel Cell Today, the leading market intelligence provider for the fuel cell industry, has published its latest Legislation Review. The new report is the first of Fuel Cell Today’s half-yearly reviews, covering legislative and policy developments worldwide. The latest review focuses on the outcome of COP15; the UK’s adoption of a feed-in tariff; the prospects for the US Department of Energy’s hydrogen programme and for climate change legislation in the US. Future editions of the half-yearly Legislation Review will continue to focus on the main markets for fuel cells including the North American, Japanese, and European super-regions, analysing developments by national governments, local and US State governments, and groupings of nation-states (such as the European Union). To access the new report, see http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/online/survey?survey=2010-04/2010-April-Legislation-Review

The 4th Stakeholders’ General Assembly of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking brings together a broad range of European and global stakeholders from sectors including research, industry and financial communities, policy makers and international partners. Participants will gather to discuss and exchange views on achievements and the future developments of Fuel Cells and Hydrogen technologies, and benefit from networking opportunities.
The first day is devoted to a Programme Review. Its objective is to assess the progress of the portfolio of fuel cells and hydrogen projects in relation to the targets of the Multi-annual Implementation Plan (MAIP) and annual implementation plan as well as with reference to international developments in the field. The Programme review is also expected to feed debates and exchanges of the Stakeholders general assembly the next day.

October 27-28th During the 4th HyRaMP AGM, 32 member regions agreed to aim “HyER” in accelerating zero emissions vehicles.  HyRaMP has now changed to become “HyER”, Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Electromobility in European Regions. The event presented the new structure of the organisation, and welcomed two new members, the City of Rotterdam and the Region of Poitou Charentes.

Belgium’s political parties have reached a conditional agreement to shut down the country’s two remaining nuclear power stations. The plan for a shutdown of the three oldest reactors by 2015 and a complete exit by 2025 is conditional on finding enough energy from alternative sources to prevent any shortages. In 2009, atomic energy provided 55% of the country’s electricity generation.

ASTM Subcommittee D03.14 on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells is currently developing the last two of a series of standards designed to support quality standards for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles being developed by SAE International (formerly the Society of Automotive Engineers) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The two standards currently under development are ASTM WK34574, Test Method for Determination of Trace Hydrogen Bromide, Hydrogen Chloride, Chlorine and Organic Halides in Hydrogen Fuel by Gas Chromatography (GC) with Electrolytic Conductivity Detector Cell (ELCDC) and Mass Spectrometer (MS); and ASTM WK23815, Test Method for Determination of Total Halocarbons Contained in Hydrogen and Other Gaseous Fuels. Subcommittee D03.14 is part of ASTM International Committee D03 on Gaseous Fuels. According to Jacquelyn Birdsall, who chairs D03.14, the proposed standards, along with standards that have already been approved, will play an important role in the hydrogen fuel industry. “Since 2008, D03.14, with the support of the U.S. Department of Energy, has approved nine ASTM methods to support the commercialization of hydrogen as a vehicle fuel,” says Birdsall. “These standards were identified by the industry as essential to commercialization and will be part of international and national hydrogen quality codes and standards.” All interested parties are invited to participate in [...]

Fuel Cells 2000 has released ‘The Business Case for Fuel Cells 2011: Energizing America’s Top Companies’, which follows on from last year’s ‘Why Top Companies are Purchasing Fuel Cells Today’. The report offers a brief introduction to fuel cells; their benefits in stationary, warehouse and backup power operations; and fuel cell financing, including power purchase agreements.

The next IRES conference in 2011 will take place at the bcc Berlin Congress Center on November 30, 2011. IRES 2010 attracted attendance from 41 countries with 600 attendees.