EHA Newsletter October 2010

A draft report by the European Expert Group on Future Transport Fuels assesses Europe’s options for substituting oil in the transport sector. The group, comprising industry associations, NGOs and Commission officials, was put together by the European Commission to provide advice on developing political strategies for alternative fuels. Among them, the European Hydrogen Association has been submitted input to the draft focussing on the need for a coordianted approach to local infrastructure build-up for electric battery and electric fuel cell cars.

The report states that the transport sector remains  heavily dependent on oil, but concerns over projected rise in demand and spiralling greenhouse gas emissions have led to the search for viable alternative fuels. The report identifies electricity, via battery or hydrogen fuel cells, and biofuels as the main options for substituting oil in transport.

At the Third Hydrogen Infrastructure Workshop organized by HyRaMP, together with the European Hydrogen Association, EHA, on October 20, the message from world leading hydrogen suppliers, Linde and Air Liquide, was loud and clear: hydrogen will be produced by many different primary energy sources, including renewable sources and can be effectively and economically distributed using existing distribution networks.
Hydrogenics, a global hydrogen infrastructure equipment supplier, explained the important contribution of  hydrogen storage to peakshaving and to smooth integration of more renewable energy into electricity grids. H2Logic, who installs and operates hydrogen refuelling stations in Scandinavia, described the comprehensive authorisation procedures for hydrogen refuelling stations in the Nordic countries, that could be an example for more cumbersome processes in some of the EU Member States. In the afternoon Commission officials, presented relevant EU policy on energy, transport, industry and regional development.

On 25 June 2009 the European Commission (the “Commission”) selected the law firm Philippe & Partners for performing a study on “the liability of electricity transmission system operators for failing to supply” in Europe. The study aims at:
• Understanding liability of transmission system operators (“TSOs”) for all failures of supply (any type of supply failure, such as failure resulting from operation deficiencies, capacity curtailment, etc.);
• Analysing the way TSOs are insured against risks;
• Highlighting differences, common practices, good practices, etc. in the scrutinised Member States (“MS”);
• Determining to what extent such differences or practices affect the internal electricity market and/or hamper competition; and
• Assessing whether a Europe wide approach is recommendable.
The study covered eight MS, namely Poland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Czech Republic. The study can be downloaded at the EU Energy Website.

On July 13th 2010  Member of European Parliament, Lena-Kolarska Bobinska, sumitted the report to the European Parliament Towards a new Energy Strategy for Europe 2011-2020.

Ms. Bobinska aims to establish an Energy Strategy which achieves the Lisbon Treaty objectives and the 20-20-20 climate package targets.
Within the text, many aspects are adressed including the Promotion of energy research & development and innovation. Hydrogen is included within this section mentioning the European Parliament, “Supports the development of cost-efficient new technologies for electrical storage, including the use of hydrogen and other fuel cells, which would allow to increase the share of variable renewables;”

The overall text is currenty being amended and reshaped, thus EHA will be keeping a close watch to monitor any new developments.

Hannover, 04-08/04/2011: Join Europe’s largest and most important hydrogen and fuel cells exhibition! In April 2011, around 150 companies and institutions from around the globe will showcase a full spectrum of hydrogen/fuel cell-related products & services at Europe’s largest and most important H2+FC exhibition – the Group Exhibit Hydrogen + Fuel Cells at HANNOVER MESSE. See the latest developments in stationary, portable & mobile fuel cells, fuel cell applications, components, test systems, hydrogen production, transport, storage & infrastructure, reformers and beyond. Make essential connections with decision makers, leading researchers and potential partners from around the world. Profit from the overlapping sectors on display: Energy, Wind, MobiliTec, Power Plant Technology and Industrial Supply; thousands of international exhibitors are expected at HANNOVER MESSE. More information: link

The 12th Annual European Fuels Conference will enable refiners and fuels developers to:

Gain strategic insight into how EU fuels specifications are being met;
Assess the global and supply demand of the European fuels market;
Maximise their gain from the clean energy challenges in biofuels, hydrogen, and fuel cells, electric and hybrid vehicles;
Find the most effective way to overcome challenges faced by refiners and alternative; energy producers;
Refine your own future strategy;

Contact : www.wra.conferences.com

Backed by research support from the Swedish Energy Agency Volvo Cars starts the development of a fuel cell that can extend the electric car’s operating range without any carbon dioxide emissions. The aim is to have two prototype chassis based on the Volvo C30 DRIVe Electric ready for testing in everyday traffic in 2012.

“This is an exciting expansion of our focus on electrification. Battery cost and size means that all-electric cars still have a relatively limited operating range. Fuel cells may be one way of extending the distance these cars can cover before they need to be recharged. What is more, the project gives us increased knowledge about fuel cells and hydrogen gas,” says Volvo Cars President and CEO Stefan Jacoby.

From December 2011 HyNor Oslo Buss will operate 5 fuel cell buses, with hydrogen as fuel. The supplier is Belgium bus manufacturer Van Hool. The project also includes the building of a hydrogen station.
The operation will be based at Rosenholm bus garage, where the hydrogen station also will be established. Ruter, the public transport authority for Oslo and Akershus, is responsible for the operation, but the actual driving of the buses will be done by an operator chosen from a competitive tender in February 2011.

Local people living and working in the Billingham and Port Clarence areas of the UK have met members of the Air Products team who are wishing to build the Tees Valley Renewable Energy Facility, a 49MW power generation project that will use waste destined to landfill to supply electricity to more than 50,000 homes in the North East. The exhibition, which was held at Stockton City Learning Centre on 18th October and the Port Clarence Community Centre on 19th October, was an opportunity for local people to learn more about the proposed project, which was announced in July 2010, in advance of a planning application being submitted by Air Products to Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.

HyNor Oslo Buss will operate 5 fuel cell buses, from the Belgium bus manufacturer Van Hool, with hydrogen as fuel from December 2011 including a hydrogen station. The operation will be based at Rosenholm bus garage, where the hydrogen station also will be established. Ruter is responsible for the operation, but the actual driving of the buses will be done by an operator chosen from a competitive tender in February 2011. The hydrogen station will be procured in October 2010 after a competitive tender. HyNor Oslo Buss is a common project between the regional transport executive company Ruter (authority), the environmental organisation Zero, Oslo City and Akershus County. The two latter have contributed substantial to the financial of the project. In addition the project has got external financial support from Transnova, Norwegian Research Council and an EU program (Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking program – FCH JU). The project will reduce noise and make a better air quality in the Oslo area in addition to reduced global emission from public transport. HyNor Oslo Buss project is a part of a common European demonstration project (CHIC) of fuel cell buses from 2010 to 2016. This project includes also fuel cell [...]