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Green Gardening with the Fuel Cell EcoMotion Truck

December 21, 2011

The EcoMotion Truck is a mobile power station, powered by two high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFC) that run on methanol. The HT-PEMFC allow for a simplified balance of plant and improved carbon monoxide tolerance, which makes it possible to use liquid methanol as fuel. This is reformed into hydrogen-rich gas internally in the system. The system developed by Serenergy is the first commercially available mobile RMFC (reformed methanol fuel cell) system in the world, based on HT-PEMFC technology. The fuel cell truck was tested by gardeners in the grounds of Holstebro Cemeteries, where it has three key advantages: its near-silent operation, low emissions and the fact that it does not require constant recharging. Gardeners can operate the EcoMotion for up to a week before the ten litre fuel tank needs refilling. The truck also produces power for an inverter and two built-in 230 VAC power outlets so that the gardeners don’t need long cables for equipment such as electric hedge trimmers. The gardeners at Holstebro Cemeteries were so impressed by the demonstration that they ordered a customised EcoMotion Truck for the cemetery, which was delivered in September. More information: FuelCellToday

The Launch of UKH2Mobility

December 18, 2011

Today saw the launch of UKH2Mobility at the Royal Society in London. The project brings together thirteen industry participants with three UK Government departments and the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU).

European Fuel Cell Conference and Exhibition 2011

14 Dec - 16 Dec, 2011

4th edition of “Piero Lunghi Conference” intends to outline the international state of the art of fuel cells and to provide short, medium and long-term visions on research and development in the field, as well as on market opportunities, global policies and future energy scenarios.
The conference aims to reply to the several open questions which continue to challenge the fuel cell world. It will be our target to provide a clear picture of the status of fuel cells, to consolidate the vision and reframe strategies and objectives, and to promote systematic collaboration between industry, research institutions, customers and society.

The event will take place in Rome during December 14-16, 2011.

European Parliament Vote on Report for Transport White Paper

December 15, 2011

December 14-15 2011 the European Parliament debated and voted in favor of the Report on the Roadmap to a single European Transport Area, submitted by the Member of the European Parliament Matthie Grosch. Significant points of the report included a reference to promote environmentally friendly transport and double the users of public transport in European Member States. Member states are suggested under the report to submit proposals by 2013 for initiatives that promoted environmentally friendly transport with the aim of doubling the users of public transport. The report explains, ”there is an acute need to take action in towns, as the population in conurbations is increasing, which will lead to increasing traffic, noise and air pollution. For this reason, mobility plans will also have to provide for increased infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists and lead to the doubling of the number of public transport users. Bus and tram transport in particular can significantly contribute to efficient co-modality in urban, suburban and regional transport, provided that the requisite infrastructure is adapted or made available.” See: Report

Durban climate conference to provide roadmap to new legally binding treaty

December 12, 2011

The 17th climate conference finally came to end on December 12th in Durban, South Africa. For more than 2 weeks the parties were struggling to break the deadlock over a common roadmap  to a legally-binding agreement.  At some point there were gloomy predictions that there would be no deal in Durban. The negotiations ran 2 days longer than scheduled but managed to deliver some results. The main outcomes of the conference: All parties will start negotiating a new globally binding agreement in 2012 (Durban Platform for Enhanced Action). The new pact should be decided by 2015 to come into force in 2020. The Durban Platform for Enhanced Action would “develop a new protocol, another legal instrument or agreed outcome with legal force that will be applicable to all Parties to the UN climate convention”. What legal instruments will be used is still unclear. The agreement on the Green Climate Fund that will facilitate  technology transfer towards developing countries has been reached. It is expected to channel up to $98 billion a year by 2020 to poorer nations. However, no decision has been made as to where the funding for this initiative should come from.  Some proposals to charge international shipping for the [...]

Introduction

December 5, 2011

This month important EU programs for the commercialization of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell applications gathered in Brussels and Antwerp. The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking celebrated its mid-term Stakeholder General Assembly highlighting the contribution of several projects to its commercialization objective. EHA participates as dissemination partner in 5 projects that were included: HyFACTS, FC-HyGuide, SHEL, HyLIFT-DEMO, HyPROFESSIONALS.
In the keynote on the following day the need to leverage more public funding at all levels to support a smooth market roll out was one of the key messages. Following the events, the EHA interviewed FCH JU president of the Governing Board Pierre Etienne Franc and asked him how he views the role of national associations as well as the EHA.
The EU Trans European Network for Transport invited the president of HyER , the renamed HyRaMP Partnership for Hydrogen Fuels Cells and Electro-Mobility in European Regions, to its info days on the new TEN-T Guidelines in Antwerp to present his views on how hydrogen and fuel cell technologies could best be integrated in the TEN-T network in the coming 20 years. The EHA and HyER are currently exploring the preparation of proposal under the upcoming TEN-T Call.

“Backing Hydrogen deployment” Politically and Financially – Interview with Pierre Etienne Franc

December 5, 2011

This year’s edition of the FCH JU stakeholder’s meeting brought to light inspiring developments of the past year, while increased participation of European level decision makers flagged that the sector is receiving more national and European political support. EHA took the opportunity to discuss the event and impressions with Mr. Pierre Etienne Franc, current Chairman of the Governing Board of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), the European industry-led private-public partnership working towards acceleration of market deployment of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies. Mr. Franc has more than 15 years of experience from the Air Liquide Group, most recently heading its Technologies of the Future department. He takes up the lead of the Joint Undertaking at a crucial stage of the debate regarding the future of European energy and transport systems as well as the financial framework for the application of new technologies.

AFC Energy-led Consortium Awarded €1.4 M EU Funding

December 5, 2011

UK-based alkaline fuel cell developer AFC Energy is to lead a consortium of organisations running a new EU project, LASER-CELL, backed by €2.9 million of funding.  The AFC Energy-led consortium is to receive €1.4 million of this from the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU). LASER-CELL will run alongside AFC Energy’s current development programme and will develop innovative technologies to enhance high-volume production of alkaline fuel cells, backed up by life-cycle and market analysis. AFC Energy will receive €405,600 of the total funding. Source: FuelCellToday

EU project development course in Hungary

7 Feb - 10 Feb, 2012

The FP7 Winter Academy offers a three-day February 7th-10th winter course covering all stages of an EU project development. Participants will learn the difference between FP7 and other EU programmes and get an in-depth look at the entire life-cycle of an EU project, including financial reporting and post project audits.  They will learn how to identify a call and submit a proposal in FP7. The course combines 1,5 days of proposal development and evaluation, and 2 days of project management.

Après-midi H2 conference Midi Pyrénées

19 Dec - 19 Dec, 2011

The Après-midi H2 conference will take place December 19th 2011 at the Luxembourg Palace Paris, France. The event is organized by the pHyrenees, a local hydrogen organization representing the French region of Midi Pyrénées. High-Level decision makers and industry representatives will gather at the meeting to exchange views on status and opportunities. During the event, HyER Chair, Andreas Ziolek, will present the Broadened HyER partnership, its new activities, and will outline the association’s future plans.