The FCH JU Stakeholders Assembly held in Brussels on October 26-27, illustrated the impressive progress over the last 12 months in the development of commercial hydrogen applications. Honda’s key note speech demonstrated the commitment of car makers to the production of commercial fuel cell vehicles and Plug Power illustrated the steady progress in the commercialisation of stationary applications. EU’s Research Commisisoner Janez Potocnic and DG TREN ‘s responsible unit director Stefan Tostmann both mentioned the importance of the pioneering spirit of the European fuel cell and hydrogen industry in kicking off the first European Industrial Initiative on energy as proposed by the EU Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan). The SET Plan is regarded the technology pillar of the EU ‘s energy and climante policy and the Commission estimated the budget needed for fuel cell and hydrogen development at around € 5 bln for 2013-2020.
As also the new EU Transport policy for 2010 – 2020 is under way the EHA is gearing up its national and local forces to inform politicians of the need to leverage funding to allow an even bigger budget to accelerate early markets. The third edition in the series of joint strategy papers of the EHA and the German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association, DWV will be dealing with this topic, illustrating the current status of primary energry sources and how to make the best use of them when building the electric transport infrastructure. The paper will come out in time for the big EU Transport Confererece on November 20, the Fuel Cell Vehicle Parade in Copenhagen, co- organised by the EHA, on November 30, 2009 and last but not least the inauguration of a new EU Commission and EU president…..
The EHA met with the the interim director of the Unit Automotive of the Commission’s DG Enterprise to discuss the first experiences wit hte EU Green Car Initiaitve that was annouced last November as part of teh EU Economic Recovery Package to support the struggling European car industry. The programme focusses on the development of electric powertrain with a clear focus on batteries and support for clean diesel and biofuel technology. It provides financial support for green technologies in the form of grants from the European Commission’s scientific research budget, and loans from the European Investment Bank. Under the Green Cars Initiative, research will be funded in a variety of areas such as greener combustion engines for trucks, bio-methane, and electric and hybrid vehicles and infrastructure. The financial support measures will be supplemented by demand side measures involving regulatory action by Member States and the EU, such as the reduction of car registration taxes on low CO2 cars to stimulate car purchase by citizens.Mr. Jean explained that the first calls for proposal that was announced on July 30 was the result of a collabroation with DG RTD and DG TREN. The EHA explained the importance of hydrogen and fuel cells in the development of a future electric transport system that would cover all transport needs including long distance travel and opublic transport. The importance of a coordinated development of the recharging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure for battery resp. fuel cells cars was also discussed. The EHA communicated its intention to support a joint strategy paper on this subject. Mr. Jean suggested a follow up meeting after the new appointment of the new Commissioners to discuss the infrastructure aspects more in detail. More info at the EGCI website.
The European Commission recently launched an online Strategic Energy Technologies (SET-Plan) Information System, “SETIS”, which provides the latest research results on the status, forecasts and R&D investment figures for low-carbon technologies. It underpins the effective strategic planning, conception and implementation of EU energy technology policy and serves notably to the implementation of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan). SETIS assesses and monitors those technologies that have a significant potential to help Europe meet its energy and climate change targets, such as wind power, solar power, CCS or bioenergy. The Information System offers interactive tools to compare the maximum potential and energy production costs foreseen for the different technologies over time. Scientific and market analyses are fed into the system by the SETIS community, led by the European Commission through its Joint Research Centre (JRC), working in close collaboration with other Commission services, EU Member States and European stakeholders in industry, research and finance.
The analyses cover in particular the low-carbon technologies identified by the SET-Plan and proposed as European Industrial Initiatives (wind, photovoltaics, concentrating solar power, bioenergy, carbon dioxide capture and storage -CCS-, smart grids, nuclear fission), two ongoing Initiatives (fuel cell and hydrogen and nuclear fusion) as well as others with great potential such as, ocean, geothermal power and energy storage. Demand side energy efficient technologies are also included.
SETIS focuses its analysis on R&D investment, which marks the innovation capacities for each technology; the technologies’ state-of-the-art, and forecasts from a technological, market and impact point of view.
The Capacities Maps monitor R&D efforts made by the industry and the public sector in Europe on key low-carbon technologies. SETIS will continuously monitor the research efforts and report periodically through these Maps.
The Technology Maps gather key information on the status and prospects of low-carbon technologies. These maps have contributed to the definition and the key performance indicators of the proposed “Technology Roadmaps”. The Technology Maps offer Europe a solid basis for technology development strategic planning and is updated annually. The next edition is due by the end of 2009.
SETIS also releases online an energy production cost calculator that allows users to compare costs of production for different technologies over the time (up to 2030) and dissects the main elements that contribute to these costs. Cost prospects are a valuable tool to foresee the competitiveness of a given technology within the energy system and its evolution.
Background
The SET-Plan was adopted by the Council of the European Union in February 2008. It is a first step to establish an energy technology policy for Europe and is based on the following objectives:
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is a Directorate General of the European Commission. It provides customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies. As a service of the European Commission, the JRC functions as a reference centre of science and technology for the Union. Close to the policy-making process, it serves the common interest of the Member States, while being independent of special interests, whether private or national.
The achievements of the World’s Largest Hydrogen Powered Bus Fleet will be showcased at the FINAL CONFERENCE of the HyFLEET:CUTE Project.
The Conference will include Exhibitions of the Daimler / EvoBus Fuel Cell and the MAN Internal Combustion Engine hydrogen buses. There will also be tours of the Hydrogen Refuelling Infrastructure and lots of opportunities to discuss details of the HyFLEET:CUTE Project with the Project Partners and network with colleagues and other people with interest and expertise in hydrogen.
The FIRST PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION of the NEXT GENERATION Daimler Citaro HYBRID FUEL CELL BUS will also be at the Conference.
An excellent programme of speakers has been assembled.
There will also be TWO DISCUSSION AND DEBATE FORUMS with INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY LEADERS with lots of opportunity for QUESTIONS AND COMMENT FROM THE CONFERENCE FLOOR
The Draft conference programme can be downloaded at http://www.global-hydrogen-bus-platform.com/InformationCentre/Downloads
You can register now by visiting WWW.HYFLEET-CUTE-FINAL-CONFERENCE.COM
