National News

  • German-Canadian fuel cell collaboration in North Rhine Westphalia 28-02-2010

    Christa Thoben, Minister for Economy of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Canadian Vice consul Henri Proulx signed an agreement of collaboration between the Zentrum für Brennstoffzellentechnik (ZBT), of  the University of Duisburg-Essen, and the Canadian research institute NRC-IFCI (National Research Council Canada – Institute for Fuel Cell... read more
  • Annual Press Conference German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association 19-02-2010

    The Annual Press Conference of the DWV was held in the German governement’s press centre in Berlin building on February 18, stressing the need to address the efficient use of primary energy resources in transport indicating complementarity of fuel cell electric and battery electric vehicle developments. Concerning this last... read more
  • Portugese Hydrogen Association publishes Lisbon Statement on Hydrogen 12-02-2010

    The Portugese Hydrogen Association APH2 published the “Lisbon Statement on Hydrogen” to draw governments  attentioin to the need to speed up the support for sustainable hydrogen infrastrucutre developments. The statement urges  overnments  to boost directly or indirectly the implementation of a Hydrogen based Economy. • Governments should make efforts to balance... read more
  • ENI opens another hydrogen / natural gas mixture station near Milan 08-02-2010

    On February 8 the President of the Region of Lombardy Formigoni inaugurated the first hydrogen- natural gas mixture  station in L in Milan. The use of hydrogen natural gas mixtures in some countries with a good gas network could be an intermediate step towards the use of pure hydrogen in... read more
  • Bulgarian Hydrogen Association requests EHA membership 31-01-2010

    Bulgarian Hydrogen Society (BG H2 Society) has been founded by the Ministry of Defense of Republic of Bulgaria, members of Bulgarian Parliament, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy (UCTM) and Bulgarian Academy of Science as well as experts from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Technical University of Sofia and... read more
  • Towards cheaper fuel cells without platinum 10-01-2010

    French researchers have presented a study that enable to produce and use hydrogen by replacing platinum by a synthetic enzyme. This method should open a new era for the profitability of fuel cells by enabling the production of hydrogen from nickel, iron or cobalt, less expensive and rare than... read more
  • French H-PAC Calls for Projects is out 30-12-2009

    H-PAC programme aims at developing a French free carbon hydrogen and fuel cells production mainly for stationary applications. At mid-term, H-PAC will promote the introduction of hydrogen in the energy mix to play both a role as a clean energy vector in stationary systems and as storage of renewable... read more
  • First hydrogen refueling station in Czech Republic 12-12-2009

    The first hydrogen pumping station in the Czech Republic was launched into operation in Neratovice, central Bohemia, on November 5, after three years of preparations by the Nuclear Research Institute (ÚJV) in co-operation with Linde Gas. It has taken almost three years and three million Euro dollars to complete... read more
  • Fuel cell canal boat launched in Amsterdam 12-12-2009

    A fuel cell power boat was launched on 9 December to circling in the Amsterdam canals. The Nemo H2 which can transport up to 87 people, is a unique boat specially designed to run on a fuel cell engine, where hydrogen and oxygen combine to generate electricity and water,... read more
  • Copenhagen opens Hydrogen Station in time for COP 15 13-11-2009

    The City of Copenhagen has inaugurated its first hydrogen fueling station. It has also unveiled eight new hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, comprising two work vehicles and six cars, that will refuel at the hydrogen station. The inauguration sees Copenhagen pass the first milestone towards its ambitious goal of becoming the... read more
  • Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Nordic Countries 24-26 November 2009, Oslo, Norway 01-11-2009

    The Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Nordic Countries conference will be held on 24-26 November 2009, in Oslo, Norway. This conference combines the annual HyNor conference and the Norwegian hydrogen and fuel cell seminar. This year’s conference will be focus on infrastructure, cars and buses in the HyNor project from... read more
  • Britain’s first carbon capture and storage plant to be built in Yorkshire 25-10-2009

    The first coal-fired power station with incorporated carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is scheduled to be constructed in Hatfield, Yorkshire. The plant will be a demonstration plant which has been scheduled after winning a €180m from the European Union. Additionally, those funds in a previously arranged agreement are... read more
  • First 24-hour self service hydrogen fuelling station in Huerth, Germany 21-10-2009

    By March 2010, Air Products will install the first ever 24-hour self service hydrogen fuelling station in Hürth, Germany. The station will allow bus drivers to refuel their vehicles around the clock and for future use, Air Products will design and incorporate the safety systems to allow it to... read more
  • Polymer Fuel Cells Challenge launched by UK Carbon Trust 20-10-2009

    The UK Carbon Trust has launched a bid for a breakthrough in fuel cell technology. The “Polymer Fuel Cells Challenge” aims to accelerate the commercialisation of breakthrough UK-technology for cost effective (mass) production of fuel cell powered cars and buses, as well as electricity and heat in homes and... read more
  • UK supports Nissan battery plant in North East England 09-10-2009

    French car maker Renault SA and its Japanese alliance partner Nissan Motor Co plan to build two factories in the U.K. and Portugal to produce lithium-ion batteries for future models of electric vehicles. The announcement is in line with the stated ambition of the alliance to become the leading... read more
  • French Government bids for 2 millions electric cars in 2020 30-09-2009

    Jean-Louis Borloo, French Minister of Ecology and Energy and Christian Estrosi, Minister of Industry, presented an action plan for electric cars development and hybrids rechargeable on October 1st. The objective is to put into circulation 2 millions cars by 2020  as they expect an increase of 4%... read more
  • Creation of the French Observatory on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells 16-09-2009

    On September 15th 2009, the “Observatoire de l’Hydrogène et des piles à combustible” (Observatory on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells) was created following the agreement of ADEME, French Hydrogen Association (AFH2) and Alphea in the framework of the French platform HYPAC. This observatory is created with the aim to become... read more
  • Hydrogen corridor planned in Scotland 16-09-2009

    The ‘Scotland’s Hydrogen Future’, which includes  a newly unveiled plan for a ‘hydrogen corridor’ from Aberdeen to Inverness has been discussed during the conference on ‘Building a Sustainable Economy through Hydrogen and Renewable Energy ‘organized by the Moray-based United Nations Training Centre, the Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association,... read more
  • Hychain project delivers 13 FCV’s to Spanish municpality 08-08-2009

    The Hychain-Minitrans project, coordinated by Air Liquide, develops fleets of small hydrogen-powered urban vehicles. This project will make it possible for users in four European Union countries – France, Italy, Spain and Germany – to test these vehicles in a real-life situation. In Spain, 13 vehicles powered by a... read more
  • Baden Wuerttemberg jumpstarts electric transportation. 31-07-2009

    The Stuttgart Regional Economic Development Corporation (Stuttgart Region EDC) has been awarded 115-million euros by Germany’s Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs in a competition to help jumpstart the development of sustainable transportation systems in urban areas. Supported by the Baden-Wuerttemberg Ministry for Environment, the Stuttgart Region’s entry... read more
  • Italian Assocation H2IT organises JTI Second Call Seminar July 17, 2009 Milan 18-07-2009

    H2IT in collaboration with the local chapter of the EU Enterprise Europe Network and the Italian Federation of Scientific and TechnicalAssociations FAST is organised a seminar to present the topics of the JTI Second Call for proposals. A Representative of the JTI Programme office  and Italian members of the... read more
  • Sweden includes hydrogen in eco-efficiency roadmap for Europe 08-07-2009

    A report by the Stockholm Environment Institute, entitled ‘A European Eco-efficient Economy’, will provide a basis for discussions during an informal meeting of energy and environment ministers in Åre on 23-25 July. Thus, Sweden, which took over the EU’s rotating Presidency on July 1st, has pledged to put energy... read more
  • EHA visit Hungary 23-06-2009

    June2-3, Marieke Reijalt, managing director of the European Hydrogen Association (EHA) visited Hungary and met representatives of several companies and institutions with interest in hydrogen energy. One of the objectives of the visit was to seek for potential partners in commencing building future hydrogen instrastucture in Hungary, possibly including... read more
  • Italian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association AGM promotes creation of national platform 15-06-2009

    H2IT, the Italian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association, is collaborating with Italy’s biggest industry organisation Confindustria to establish an Italian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Platform, H2CC.  At the H2IT Annual General Meeting on June 26, 2009 form 1030 till 1230 in Milan, similar initiatives in other EU countries and... read more
  • Swiss CityCat H2 sweeps streets really clean! 09-06-2009

    Empa a Swiss  interdisciplinary research and services institution  for material sciences and technology development, home of the Swiss Hydrogen Association “Hydropole”, and Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) in cooperation with Bucher Schörling, Proton Motor, BRUSA Elektronik AG, and Messer Switzerland have developed a communal vehicle running on hydrogen. „Bucher CityCat... read more
  • Marie Curie Hydrogen Research Network meets in Warsaw 23-05-2009

    The third meeting Marie Curie Research Training Network “Hydrogen” will take place from October 21-25, 2009 in Warsaw. Hosted by the University of Warsaw . The Hydrogen network brings together leading researchers from different disciplines and sectors with a combined expertise that maximises the chance of achieving scientific breakthroughs... read more
  • Baden-Wuerttemberg award for innovative fuel cel technology 2009 15-05-2009

    In recognition of exceptional developments in one of the new century’s most fascinating technologies, and to stimulate further innovation, the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Environment and the Stuttgart Region Economic Development Corporation are – for the ninth time – inviting entries for the f-cell award, sponsored by the State of... read more
  • HyNor Partnership and StatoilHydro Officially Open Hydrogen Highway 12-05-2009

    The HyNor Partnership and StatoilHydro inaugurated the  Norwegian hydrogen highway, HyNor  on 11 May 2009 at StatoilHydro’s new hydrogen station at Økern in Oslo. The “EVS Viking Rally” began in conjunction with the HyNor opening. The starting group in the rally included 14 hydrogen vehicles, two plug-in hybrids and... read more
  • Skoda kicks of fuel cell bus demonstration in Czech Republic. 30-04-2009

    From this June a Skoda fuel cell hybride bus, powered by a 48 kW Proton Motor fuel cell and 22 Li-Ion batteries and 4 ultra capacitors, will be touring Neratovice in the Central Bohemian region of the Czech Republic. The bus will have a range of 250 km and... read more
  • South Netherlands and Flanders inaugurate Hydrogen Region 29-04-2009

    The EHA was invited to the inauguration of the Hydrogen Region Flanders South Netherlands. The Flemish Minister of Industry, Enterprise, Research, Innovation and Trade, Patricia Ceyssens, on April 28, 2009  kicked off project that totals  € 14,1 mln. for three years to develop demonstration projects in the field of... read more
  • Chancellor Merkel lays foundation for Wind Hydrogen Plant. 22-04-2009

    On 21. April Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel together with Brandenburg’s Prime Minister Platzeck laid the foundation stone for the first industrial hybrid power station in the world. It is developed and built by ENERTRAG. The plant will harness wind to produce electricity as per conventional wind turbines. But when there... read more
  • City of Hamburg signs major agreement for more hydrogen vehicles and hydrogen refuelling stations. 25-03-2009

    On 24 March 2009, Daimler, Shell, TOTAL, Vattenfall Europe, and hySOLUTIONS signed an agreement with the City of Hamburg to build a low-emission fleet of vehicles and the accompanying infrastructure, including hydrogen fuelling stations. From 2010  a total of ten Daimler fuel cell buses of the latest generation will... read more
  • New EU clean bus and trucks test facility opens in Italy. 13-03-2009

    On March 13  European Commissioner for Science and Research, Janez Potočnik, opened a new facility for testing fuel consumption and emissions of trucks and buses. The new installation, “VELA 7″ at the Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Ispra (Northern Italy), realistically simulates wind drag, tyre/road friction and full... read more
  • Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Platform founded in Hungary 13-03-2009

    Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Platform founded in Hungary The long term goal of the Platform is to promote the development of hydrogen economy in Hungary. Members of the platform are research intstitutes, university departments, public associations and private companies from the energy sector. The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell National Technology Platform... read more
  • French call for proposals 28-02-2009

    The first call for proposals 2009 of the French Hydrogen and Fuel cell programme Hpac has been published at the site of the French National Agency for Research  l’ANR.  The Call is divided among three topics: 1. Hydrogen Production; 2. Hydrogen Storage; 3. Fuel Cells. Deadline for this Call is March... read more
  • Hydrogen Press Conference in German Parliament 23-02-2009

    At the Annual press conference of the German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association, DWV, at the Presss office of the German Parliament on Febraury 18, 2009, Peter Froeschle of Daimler AG explained that Daimler is developing battery and fuel cell vehicles to power  future transport applications. He emphasized that... read more
  • Italian government funds new hydrogen and fuel cell projects 21-01-2009

    The Italian Ministry of Industry presented the 30 winning proposals on Energy Efficiency , among which three on hydrogen and fuel cells, that will be financed and approved by the National Industrial Innovation programme Industria 2015. In total 86 proposals were received. The 30 approved projects, totalling more than... read more
  • French government seeks to lower legal barriers of clean technologies 07-01-2009

    The French Environment minister Jean-Louis Borloo presented a proposal with 104 concrete measures providing a legal toolbox as a result of a nation wide survey the “Grennelle de l’environnement” held in in 2007:  the proposed measures focus mainly on legal changes to facilitate the uptake of clean technologies: - energy ... read more
  • Taking the North Rhine Westphalia HyWay. 06-01-2009

    The „NRW Hydrogen HyWay” was inaugurated by Dr. Jens Baganz, secretary of State for the economy of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, last November during the 8th annual meeting of the competence network Fuel Cell and Hydrogen NRW of the state agency EnergieAgentur.NRW. This new lead project in... read more
  • UK 09-12-2008

    The recently released James Bond movie featured four Ford Hydrogen Edge’s and a high tech dwelling in the desert powered by fuel cells that at the end of the movie goes up in flames including the wall mounted hydrogen cilinders. In an effort to monitor the way the use... read more
  • Germany 09-12-2008

    On the occasion of a Government supported seminar on electric vehicles GM released 10 Equinox FCV’s that will be used by different types of customers that range from Insurance companies to oil companies. As an integral part of GM’s strategy towards further electrification of the car, this fourth generation... read more
  • France 12-11-2008

    More than 130 stakeholders discussed the establishment of the French Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Platform, on November 12 in Paris. EHA board member Claude Derive of the French Hydrogen Association AfH2 is coordinating the development of a first draft framework for the Platform. More info at the... read more
  • UK 01-10-2008

    In the same month that the UK Government announced it is increasing its CO2 reduction target from 60% to 80% by 2050 (like the new US President), Air Products announces that it has experienced nearly 100% growth in its global hydrogen energy business in 2008.  Its efforts included the... read more
  • Switzerland 01-10-2008

    Empa – the Materials Sciences & Technology Department Environment, Energy and Mobility Laboratory for Hydrogen & Energy in collaboration with the Swiss Hydrogen Association, Hydropole is organising the 3rd Hydrogen & Energy Symposium in January 28 .30 2009 in Braunwald, Switzerland. For more information please visit www.empa.ch/h2e Materials Science... read more
  • Germany 01-10-2008

    Last month saw the opening of the upgraded 700 bar hydrogen filling station in Berlin with the filling of the fuel cell car Hydro-Gen4 by GM/Opel. For the first time at a public station an infrared interface was used for data communication between filling station and vehicle. Ramping up... read more
  • France 01-10-2008

    The European Commission agreed State Aid financing of the € 67 mln Horizon Hydrogen Energy (H2E) program. The program is dedicated to the development of hydrogen vehicles with State Aid on October 8, 2008. Air Liquide together with 17 other French companies are collaborating in the program. The European ... read more
  • Germany 08-09-2008

    The German National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Innovation Programme” (NIP) is off to an impressive start. At a meeting in Berlin on September 22 already more than 60 hydrogen and fuel cell projects were presented. The National Innovation Programme provides a common framework for numerous hydrogen and fuel... read more
  • France 08-09-2008

    CEA le Ripault (Indre & Loire), is organising a meeting on Ocotber 28 2008, as part of the national Pact Pme  programme for SME’s, to identify collaboration and technology transfer opportunities in the field of fuels and hydrogen storage. For more information on participation please contact : Mme Estelle VITALI Animation territoriale... read more
  • USA 28-08-2008

    As President, I will tap our natural gas reserves, invest in clean coal technology, and find ways to safely harness nuclear power.  I’ll help our auto companies re-tool, so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here in America.  I’ll make it easier for the American... read more
  • Spain 02-08-2008

    A Spanish Formula Zero team, EuplatecH2, won the Formula Zero Grand Prix held in Rotterdam. In the finals, the Dutch University of Delft team was defeated by the Spanish with less than two tenths of a second. The battle for third place was in favor of the British. They... read more
  • Netherlands 02-08-2008

    Senternovem in the Netherlands is organising a seminar on October 7, 2008 on Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Applications in practice with presentations of the results of the EU FP6 projects HYPER, handbook for stationary systems and HyApproval, Handbook for Hydrogen Refuelling stations, that will be presented by the EHA.... read more
  • Italy 02-08-2008

    H2IT is organizing a Post-FCH Stakeholders Seminar on October 16, 2008 in Milan to align Italian hydrogen and fuel cell interests with the JTI Implementation Plan. Representatives of the Governing Board have been invited to present their views on the the JTI programme and Italy’s contribution. More information on... read more
  • Germany 02-08-2008

    German government announced a plan to establish an International Energy Security University in Berlin. The location should be an old gas storage building at Schonberg and the plan is supported by different multinational energy... read more
  • France 02-08-2008

    The French president Nicloas Sarkozy communicated its plans for a fixed 5,5% VAT on clean vehicles and other clean... read more
  • Canada 02-08-2008

    At the age of 76 one of the pioneers in fuel cell developments in recent years died in Vancouver at the age of 76. Geoffrey Ballard, who started his career with Mobil and the USArmy, founded Ballard Research to work on lithium batteries and later on fuel cells built... read more
  • Italy 02-07-2008

    H2IT appointed its new Board for 2008-2010. The Board elected as its president Aldo Fumagalli, chair of the Sustainable Development Committee of the largest industry organisation in Italy, Confindustria and CEO of Sol a multi-national industrial gas company. The newly elected president indicated five priority areas for H2IT: - Development... read more
  • Iceland 02-07-2008

    Thorsteinn Sigfusson, a well known promoter of many national and international hydrogen projects and professor at the Universityof Icelans , published a new book: “Planet Hydrogen – The Taming of the Proton”; The Coxmoor Publishing Company, Longborough (UK) 2008. ISBN 978-1-901892-27-7, 230 p., dealing with the relationship of hydrogen... read more
  • Germany 02-07-2008

    ZEMSHIPS is a project for the realization of the first fuel cell powered passenger ship world wide in the category of up to 100 passengers. The project is financially supported by funds of the EU-LIFE program. The idea was born to operate a fuel cell passenger in the city... read more
  • France 02-07-2008

    The French Hydrogen Association, AFH2 will be present at the Fête des Transports et De la Mobilité Durable (Stand AFH2) at the Jardins du Trocadéro (Paris, Septemberr 12 – 14  2008. More info at the AFH2 website www.afh2.org: the site is also featuring a banner referring to its 10... read more
  • Belgium 01-07-2008

    The EHA was contacted by the Cabinet of Patricia Ceyssens, Flemish minister for Economy, Enterprise, Science, Innovation & Foreign Trade to facilitate a round trip in Europe with her BMW Hydrogen 7. The EHA provided  the minister with the locations of liquid hydrogen refuelling stations in Europe and offered... read more
  • Japan: Suzuki cleared to test SX4-FCV in Japan 28-06-2008

    At the G8 conference in Hokkaido next month Suzuki will be present with a new hydrogen fuel cell version of its SX4 crossover, the SX4-FCV. Fitted with a fuel cell supplied by GM, and a 70 MPa (10,000 psi) storage tank, the SX4-FCV has a maximum operating range of... read more
  • Netherlands: Rotterdam and Amsterdam set up national hydrogen coalition 25-06-2008

    The local authorities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam have set up a National Hydrogen Coalition. This platform will include companies, knowledge institutes, civil society organisations and governments, working together towards the large-scale application of hydrogen. The coalition will make an important contribution to national policy objectives with respect to the... read more
  • Belgium: Belgian and Dutch Regions present Masterplan for joined Hydrogen development 25-06-2008

    The VSWB, the Flanders Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association organised a workshop in the presence of the Minister of Economy of Flanders to present a bilateral project to establish a Hydrogen Region (Waterstof Regio). A Masterplan has been developed that will involve local industry, research institutes and local government... read more
  • Spain: Zaragoza inaugurated the World Expo 2008 in hydrogen fashion. 21-06-2008

    From May 1, 2008, a hydrogen fuelling station is operating in Zaragoza as part of the celebration of the International Exposition (Zaragoza-EXPO 2008). The on-site hydrogen production, developed in collaboration with Air Products, will be generated via water electrolysis, since the thematic key of this EXPO is “Water and... read more
  • Italy 05-06-2008

    H2IT organised a seminar on “Italy and the JTI”. A key note speech of Andre Martin, executive director of the FCH Instruct office, outlined the JTI activities and the development of the German Hydrogen Strategy. This led to a vivid discussion of Italian priorities. Guided by a representative of... read more
  • Germany 05-06-2008

    The Berlin Transport Authoriity, the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe  (BVG)  is preparing the acquisition of 50 more hydrogen buses this year to be delivered next year. With 14 hydrogen buses already in daily service the BVG saved  130 t CO2 since 2007. The BVG is operating also 5 CNG buses, but... read more
  • France 11-05-2008

    The French Hydrogen Association is organising a seminar on Safety Aspects regarding the use of Hydrogen in collaboration with INERIS on June 26, 2008. The programme includes a presentation of the HyApproval hydrogen fuelling station handbook that the EHA is disseminating in collaboration with the EHA national member associations.... read more
  • Belgium 10-05-2008

    The Total Hydrogen station in Brussels is set to open June 2, 2008 in Brussels. The station is located in the south of Brussels on the highway Brussels-Paris. The Linde Group is supplying the hydrogen. The BMW Hydrogen 7 cars that are used by the Commission will refuel at... read more