European Hydrogen Association » National Activities

The French Environment Minister Jean-Louis Borloo on Jul y 27, presented a national strategy for sustainable development, for the period 2010-2013. The new strategy identifies nine strategic challenges following the French green bill, the Grenelle de l’environment announced in 2007, which sets out a series of commitments and objectives for environmental policy. The strategy includes support for the development of environmental labelling for consumer products and supporting companies in their eco-design efforts to double by 2012 the sale of products carrying an eco-label.
The strategy also includes indications for industrial policy including on renewable energy, green chemistry, recycling and carbon capture and storage as well as for environmentally and socially sustainable agricultural production.

H2Moves kicks-off in Oslo

marieke — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 09:52:03 +0000

A large demonstration project for fuel cell electric vehicles, known as H2MOVES, has been announced in Oslo July 6, 2010. The project, based in Scandinavia, will bring seventeen of the latest state‐of‐the‐art electric vehicles with fuel cells from Daimler and FIAT to Oslo including the establishment of a large scale hydrogen refuelling station in the city by H2 Logic. The aim is to advance the commercialisation of hydrogen for transport in Scandinavia as well as connecting the region with the strong German initiatives within the area. The project has a budget of €19,5 million financed by company contributions as well as European and national funding from Norway and Denmark. Ten Mercedes‐Benz B‐class F‐CELL cars from Daimler (Germany), two Alfa Romeo MiTo fuel cell vehicles from Centro Ricerche FIAT (Italy) and five electric city cars with fuel cell range extension from H2 Logic (Denmark) will in 2011 be provided for daily operation in Oslo and on specific tours in southern Norway and the whole Scandinavian region. Thanks to its long range of around 400 kilometres and short refuelling times, the Mercedes‐Benz B‐Class F‐CELL combines local zero‐emission mobility with long‐distance comfort and compelling performance. More information on EHA’s Swedisch national member site, Hydrogen Sweden.

A hydrogen refuelling station from H2 Logic will be designed and built in Oslo. The objective is to provide hydrogen with a fully integrated purchase interface and in an urban environment within one of the densest hydrogen fuelling station network in Europe. The station will comply with the latest international hydrogen refuelling standard SAE J2601 that ensures a safe and fast refuelling in few minutes with the same ease of use and convenience as today. The hydrogen supply will be based on a combination of onsite production and trucked‐in hydrogen, all based on Norwegian electricity of which more than 90% is based on renewable hydro and wind power.

During the project some of the fuel cell vehicles will be employed on a European hydrogen vehicle demonstration tour, coordinated by Hydrogen Sweden and in collaboration with the European Regions’ and Municipalities’ Partnership on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells (HyRaMP). For the on‐site refuelling of hydrogen during the vehicle demonstration tours H2 Logic will also develop a mobile hydrogen refuelling concept for provision of almost 100% CO2 free hydrogen. A safety and certification study will be carried out by TÜV SÜD, (Germany) and SP Technical Research Institute of
Sweden to identify the certification gaps in Scandinavia to accelerate full commercialization of vehicles and fuelling stations.

New UK government presents Annual Energy Statement

marieke — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:28:18 +0000

In the first ever Annual Energy Statement to Parliament, the new UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne on June 27 set out 32 actions being taken to accelerate the transformation of the energy system and wider economy by 2050. The Statement includes 32 actions of coalition energy and climate change policy and six illustrative ‘2050 Pathways’ that show an 80% cut in emissions is achievable. An online ‘2050 Calculator’ enables public to explore the trade-offs in building a 2050 energy system. Fuel cells vehicles are mentioned in the Transport sector along side electric (read battery) vehicles, but hydrogen is absent in the sectors on CCS and Section P on Electricity Balancing. The UK goverment will further refine the scenario’s up to mid Septemebr after which it will issue a public consultation.

UK Fuel Cells and Hydrogen merry into new UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Association (UK HFCA)

marieke — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:20:08 +0000

The new UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Association (UK HFCA) was launched this week as the result of the merger of Fuel Cells UK and the UK Hydrogen Association. The new industry body will provide a common voice for the sector, advocating a positive social, political and economic environment for the development of hydrogen energy and fuel cells in the UK. With a membership comprising the leading fuel cell and hydrogen companies in the UK as well as a range of stakeholders, from energy utilities to component developers, fuel suppliers and others involved both directly and indirectly in the industry, the newly formed UK HFCA has greater influence over key public and private stakeholders to support hydrogen energy and fuel cell research.
The UK HFCA aims to provide an authoritative point of contact and a clear, informed and current view on research, development and demonstration priorities for Government, other funding agencies and key influencers.
Prior to the merger, Fuel Cells UK utilised its collective industry voice at national and international level, working alongside the Treasury to successfully identify appropriate support mechanisms for fuel cells and lobbying Government on the introduction of feed-in tariffs for low carbon technologies. The UK Hydrogen Association, prior to the merger, collaborated internationally and made significant progress towards defining routes for low carbon hydrogen delivered at competitive costs, doing much to demonstrate that this can be achieved safely, and diversifying energy options for consumers.

“The UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Association has the breadth of capability to shape the climate agenda today and drive hydrogen deployment and fuel cell commercialisation towards the low carbon economy of tomorrow,” said Dennis Hayter, newly appointed Chair of the UK HFCA. “We now have a common voice with which to ensure the industry receives all the support necessary to realise the tremendous potential it offers in meeting low carbon objectives in the UK.”

Macedonian Association for Hydrogen joins EHA as 17th national association member

lana — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:13:59 +0000

One of our newest members is the Macedonian Association for Hydrogen (MAH₂), established on the 23^rd of May 2008. The president of MAH₂ is Perica Paunović from the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje. The main goal of MAH2 is to integrate the leading scientists together with policymakers, public authorities, managers, sponsors and researchers to help incorporate scientific and technological progress in the field of advanced hydrogen technologies in the Macedonian society. They also focus on the distribution of knowledge in order to increase the public awareness about the hydrogen economy. Together with the Bulgarian Hydrogen Society, Scientific Centre in Patras (Greece), University in Zagreb (Croatia) and University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy (Bulgaria) they established the international project “Green Hydrogen House”.

MAH₂also organised the 4 Working Commissions within the Network of the Macedonian Association for Hydrogen; Defence and Security (with the Ministry of Defence), Education (with the Ministry of Education and Science), Energy (with the Ministry of Economy) and Environment (with the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning).

For more information about the Macedonian Association for Hydrogen click here

New EHA national association member in Slovenia: the Development Centre for Hydrogen Technologies

lana — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:05:33 +0000

EHA welcomes the Slovenian Development Centre for Hydrogen Technologies (DCHT) as the 18 th EHA national association member. DCHT was founded by five companies and two research institutes in a bid to boost research, development and applicable projects in the field of hydrogen and fuel cells in Slovenia. The main goal of the Centre is to pool industry and institute-based knowledge capacities. Other goals include providing conditions for the transfer of expertise, stimulating lasting cooperation between research and the business sector, influencing state development politics, organizing expert meetings on hydrogen technologies and increasing competitiveness of Slovenian companies and institutes in the long-term.

Some of their partner projects are: working on fuel cell components, modules and system integration, the establishment of hydrogen refueling stations (Ljubljana) and Intensive collaboration with the Slovene Ministry of Defense on a number of related projects.

Website is coming soon

New member: The Danish Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells

lana — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:04:00 +0000

The Danish Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells was established in accordance with the organizational and activity diagram, suggested in The Hydrogen Strategy from 2005. The chairman is Helge Holm-Larsen (Director of business development).

The organization is built on an extensive cooperation between de executive researchers and developers, the grant providers, the industry, the universities and the rest of the society.
This promotes a highly qualified, interdisciplinary, inter-institutional research and development effort.

The organization of the Partnership is also in line with the publication “Promoting Eco-Efficient Technology – The Road to a Better Environment” from the Ministry of Environment, released in autumn 2006. The Partnership was officially established as a “partnership” in accordance to this publication in November 2007.
For more information visit the website.

New Board Norwegian Hydrogen Forum

lana — Mon, 31 May 2010 07:15:07 +0000

During the general meeting this month the Norwegian Hydrogen Forum has elected their new board members. The current board is as follows:

Stein Trygve Briskeby, Statoil (Chair)
Hans Jörg Fell, Hydrogen Technologies (Deputy Chairman)
Dyre Rolstad, RAFS (Director)
Magnus Thomassen, SINTEF (Director)
Helge Weydahl, Prototech (Director)
Preben Vie, IFE (Director)
Julien Meyer, IFE (Other)
Christina Bu, NAF (Other)
Bjørn Simonsen, Kunnskapsbyen Lillestrøm (Secretary)

For more information click here

EHA and HyRaMP at WHEC 2010

lana — Mon, 31 May 2010 07:09:32 +0000

Marieke Reijalt, Executive Director, talking to the members of the Bulgarian Association