EU Policy News

FCH JU Independent as of November 15th 2010

November 23, 2010

Monday the 15th of November 2010 marked the official first day of independence for the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking. To celebrate, the Executive Director of the FCH JU, Bert De Colvenaer invited EHA along with other organisations and stakeholders to a lunch time reception to celebrate the occasion.

Although the FCH JU was very successful within its collaboration with the commission, this step will assist to remove bottlenecks within administration and create a more streamlined administrative procedures. The JU aims to reinforce global ties with 3rd nations currently developing a hydrogen market. In addition, this change will also help to facilitate deployment of hydrogen marketable technologies which require close ties to EU member states.

Hydrogen in Electricity Storage and Transport Sytems a part of new European Commission Communication

November 19, 2010

On 17 November 2010, the European Commission adopted the Communication “Energy infrastructure priorities for 2020 and beyond – A Blueprint for an integrated European energy network.”
The communication defines EU priority corridors for the transport of electricity, gas and oil.

A toolbox is also proposed in order to enable a timely implementation of these priority infrastructures. Hydrogen’s role in the future European Energy Infrastructure is more apparent as expressed in the excerpts:

“Electricity grids must be upgraded and modernised to meet increasing demand due to a major shift in the overall energy value chain and mix but also because of the multiplication of applications and technologies relying on electricity as an energy source (heat pumps, electric vehicles, hydrogen and fuel cells information and communication devices etc.).” page 6: section 2.1 Electricity grids and storage

EU says €200bn needed for energy grids by 2020

November 18, 2010

€200 billion is needed to upgrade Europe’s gas and electricity grids over the coming decade, the European Commission said yesterday (17 November), adding that half of the sum will have to come from government coffers at a time of budgetary presssure.
The EU executive presented its energy infrastructure priorities for the next two decades.

It warned that the EU will not meet its goals on renewable energy, greenhouse gas emission reductions and security of supply without significant investment in cross-border interconnections and in integrating renewable energy into the network.