EHA: Firstly, as we have stepped into a new year and a new Presidency of the EU, we look to what has been already achieved in Denmark, with regards to hydrogen and fuel cell integration within the Danish Energy System, – what are the achievements in the last year?

Mr. Mortensgaard: In Denmark much more focus has been set on the source of energy to produce the fuels to be applied by fuel cells. The aims are, hydrogen to be produced from renewable power and green fuels to be produced from hydrogen and biomass. In November 2011 the government introduced a goal that by 2035 – all electricity and heat should be produced by renewable energy. This objective is in the process of been passed by national government. Obviously, this ambitious goal becomes a driver for development of hydrogen and fuel cell technology. To reach 100% renewable energy in the electric grid, you need to introduce the Smart Grid and you need to be able to store energy.  This is the opinion of the system operator “Energinet.dk,” which is the national organization responsible for balancing the grid.

Hydrogen is playing a more increasing role in Energy storage. Wind energy companies increasingly also are becoming stakeholders in the industry of fuel cells and hydrogen.

The whole value chain is being investigated starting from the energy source to the end user. In the case of transport, Denmark is developing technology to produce hydrogen at the tanking station from wind energy. The goal is to produce hydrogen at low costs and at high conversion efficiency.

EHA: What would you like to see happen within the Danish Presidency?

Mr. Mortensgaard: The Danish plan is being negotiated at the moment. The government is setting ambitious goals within renewable energy, and this is also the will for Europe. Strong ambitious goals will be a driver for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

We need ambitious political goals, and financial support to support technological development. The wind sector still receives governmental financial support, through tariffs for example. We now are in the phase of demonstrating hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. But in order to commercialize these, industry needs financial support for early market introduction; especially within building of infrastructure.

EHA: EHA is partner in a project dealing with the education and training of hydrogen technicians, as this is also an objective of the Danish presidency to improve and expand “Green Jobs”, when looking into the Danish case. Do you see a gap in the industry needs of today/tomorrow within the hydrogen sector?

Mr. Mortensgaard: This is also an issue in Denmark. We have identified that we need highly skilled jobs, to survive in the economic situation of today. We urge young people to specialize within natural sciences at the universities; it is definitely something being discussed in Denmark. We have seen that highly skilled people need to get into the hydrogen and fuel cell business. Education of sciences is important, but it does not necessary have to be within hydrogen and fuel cells. If you are highly skilled you probably also are a quick learner.

The Danish export of hydrogen stations in Europe and the world is estimated by 2025 to be about 1.5 Billion Euros. 5,000-6,000 people are expected to be working in the sector in Denmark alone, for the building of hydrogen fuelling stations. To work with green energy is very attractive among young people. If we don’t have sufficient people to graduate in Denmark, we need young people from Europe or the rest of the world to settle in Denmark in these professions.

 EHA: In the New Year, what is your wish for 2012?

Mr. Mortensgaard: I would like to see that our government is working towards ambitious clean energy goals for Denmark; but more importantly I would like to see this to spread throughout Europe.

The expectation is that the Strategic European Hydrogen Transport Projects will stimulate further innovative hydrogen technology projects and high-level investment in the area, realising Aberdeen’s aspiration of becoming a world-leading hydrogen city.

The project will see the first hydrogen bus deployment in Scotland, with up to a dozen buses operating in the North-east. The fleet, which will operate on routes into central Aberdeen, will be the largest in any European city.

The buses will be refuelled at Scotland’s first large hydrogen refuelling station which will supply locally generated gas and be able to refuel hydrogen-powered cars as they become available.

The city council has secured £9.2million of EU funding towards the projects, has committed to contribute £2million over four years and will secure a further £9.3million of funding from project partners.

At a meeting of the Full Council, councillors approved the authority’s participation in the High V.Lo City, HyTransit, HyTrEc and LOWCAP cluster projects, subject to securing 90% of additional funding from external partners.

The projects will bring 12 hydrogen buses and a hydrogen filling station to the North-east, initially securing approximately £20.5million of investment to Aberdeen, with the potential for considerable investment and development opportunities in the field.

The strategic projects provide the opportunity to create new industry and greater choice in energy production and usage, as well as enabling the development of a hydrogen strategy for the Energetica Development Corridor.

The use of hydrogen as a transport fuel offers great promise as a key component of a low carbon energy system. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles emit no harmful emissions, are considerably more efficient than the fossil-fuelled equivalents and are virtually noise free.

Source: FuelCellToday

The fuel cell truck was tested by gardeners in the grounds of Holstebro Cemeteries (Denmark), 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

January 10th 2012 the call was officially opened for proposals until 13 APRIL 2012. The Public Information day is scheduled for 31 January in Brussels. For more information on the event and the TEN-T Call see: TEN-T Webpage

The call can serve as a good basis for proposal for deployment of hydrogen infrastructure projects. The text for the call for proposals may be found via: TEN-T call 2011

EHA will be changing staff within the beginning of February as the present Communications Manager, Moschoula Krambousanos, will be pursuing new challenges in Greece. With this move EHA looks forward to further collaboration with the hydrogen community in Greece and within the time of crisis supports the Greek community in their efforts for creating sustainable growth.

By revising the legal regulations for hydrogen refuelling stations, the Japanese government aims to advance the establishment of a national network of 70-MPa (700 bar) hydrogen refuelling stations. For this purpose, the Japan Petroleum Energy Center (JPEC) was commissioned by the Japanese Research Association of Hydrogen Supply / Utilization Technology (HySUT) and the News Energy and Industrial Development Organisation (NEDO) to develop a proposal for the revision of the existing technical standards and regulations. The new standards and regulations are planned to pave the way for constructing and operating hydrogen refuelling stations in Japan and ensure a high level of safety.

On behalf of the JPEC, TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH reviewed the technical requirements and the relevant German and European regulations and standards that must be fulfilled for licensing, constructing and operating hydrogen refuelling stations in Germany. Markus Born, expert for gas refuelling stations at TÜV SÜD Industrie Service, presented the results in Tokyo in front of over 50 experts from the industry and professional associations. These results might contribute to Japan’s revised technical standards and regulations.

Source: TUV SUD

The Report explains, Transitions in fuel supply infrastructure and vehicles will be needed for all new transport fuels. These transitions may need to be encouraged or mandated throughout all EU Member States and coordinated at the EU level in order to drive the market forward.

Assuming a reduction of at least 60% of GHGs by 2050 with respect to 1990 in the transport sector, improvements in the energy efficiency of transport operations and vehicles will provide a period of several years to evaluate and develop the technologies for alternative fuel systems that will require major transitions in infrastructure and vehicle design. A timely decision on these major transitions can therefore be taken to ensure a long-term cost-effective and sustainable solution that is commensurate with adequate industrial lead-time.

In view of the scope of change required for a low carbon transport system, it would be recommendable to analyse the current regulatory framework and to identify the gaps and level of policy support required to enable this change, particularly with regard to infrastructure for alternative fuels.

There is a current lack of an EU-wide harmonised alternative fuel infrastructure due to differing levels of development in the Member States. Such fragmented development leads to high costs, hampers consumer acceptance, and prevents the economies of scale which the Single Market could provide. A specific strategy on alternative fuel infrastructure at EU level will be necessary for the short and medium term.

Member States have promoted different alternative fuel infrastructures, because they have opted for different priorities in their fuel choices with regard to the implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive and to the allocation of state support. But there is a clear lack of harmonized EU standards within the various types of alternative fuel refuelling equipment and storage systems.

During the last decade, policy actions have mostly addressed fuel and vehicle developments, neglecting an appropriate alternative fuel infrastructure build-up. Funding to build up alternative fuel infrastructure has also been insufficient. The initial costs for market-deployment of alternative fuel infrastructure are generally higher than for petroleum-based fuels due to i.a. the lack of initial economies of scale. Fuel suppliers (i.e. private spending) are investing in alternative fuels even if the revenue from fuel sold is not sufficient to pay back infrastructure and logistics costs.

The recently adopted White Paper ”Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a Competitive and Resource Efficient Transport System” announces that the Commission will develop “a sustainable alternative fuels strategy including also the appropriate infrastructure”  and ensure “guidelines and standards for refuelling infrastructures”.

See link for Report: FTF Infrastructure

Source: DG MOVE

According to plant manager Claudiu Belciu “During this period the units have run without any major problems.” They were more than pleased with the performance and reliability that they are willing to present these units to other prospective customers who are interested in this technology.

Hydrogenics has over 1,800 installations worldwide across a wide range of industrial applications, fueling stations, renewable energy storage and conversion systems. Over the past ten years the Hystat has become a go to choice for major gas suppliers such as Air Liquide. Hydrogenics has added over 200 of them to our install base. It’s safety, quality and dependability make it the best choice for customers’ on-site hydrogen generating needs.

The decision by the driving centre to install facilities for testing of FCEVs was in response to demand from automotive OEMs.

Despite an average temperature of −15°C and sometimes as low as −45°C, FCEVs should be able to refuel for long ranges in a few minutes, just as if they were using gasoline. Fast-fill of hydrogen to any FCEV at any refuelling station worldwide, irrespective of local climate, is possible thanks to various industrial and globally agreed hydrogen refuelling standards such as the SAE J2601 fuelling protocol and because of a globally agreed nozzle design.

The H2Station^® from H2 Logic provides full compliance with all applicable international standards, including refuelling in accordance with the specifications in SAE J2601, thus offering three minutes fast fill.

During 2011 H2 Logic opened similar fast-fill stations based on the H2Station^®technology in Denmark and Norway, with several more stations planned and under manufacture during 2012.

Source: FuelCellToday

Running until 2013, the programme is open to all EU Member States, plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. A budget of € 730 million is available to fund projects and put into place a range of European portals, facilities and initiatives.

The new IEE call for project proposals is now open. In 2012, there will be € 67 million available for funding. Do not miss the opportunity to submit your ideas for projects in areas such as energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, clean transport and local energy investments!

The call closes on 8 May 2012 for all types of actions except the Build Up Skills initiative which has different deadlines.

The IEE Info Day on the Call for Proposals will be held on January 24th 2012 in Brussels for more information on the event see: European Info Day 2012

Find out more on: IEE How to Get Funds

You may also contact the “Intelligent Energy – Europe” helpdesk