EHA in Action

EHA presents at South African Round-table on Technology Cooperation with developing countries

The EHA was invited to speak at the South African Ministry of Science and Technology Stakeholder round-table meeting on 3 May 2012 in Cape Town on the theme “From a Resource-Based Economy to a Knowledge-based Economy in Developing Country: Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Case”. The stakeholder round-table meeting was hosted by the Department of Science and Technology on behalf of South Africa in collaboration with the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE) since December 2009.  The EHA is part of the Education Working Group of the IPHE.
Since 2008, when the EHA submitted a proposal to integrate technology cooperation activities in the EU Joint Undertaking for Fuel Cells and Hydrogen  2007 – 2013 Multi Annual Plan, the EHA has been following the UNFCCC developments to set up a Green Climate Fund and network of Technology Centres to support rapid deployment of clean energy and transport technologies in emerging economies. The Green Climate fund was kick-started and the Conference of the Parties in Copenhagen with a Fast Start Finance fund to which the EU contributes € 7,5 bln (stands now at € 4,8). The EHA has discussed the link with the EU Strategic Energy Technology Plan, including the activities of the EU joint Undertaking for fuel cells and hydrogen, FCH JU, to the technology cooperation activities of the Climate Technology Centres network with DG Clima. At the last COP 18 in Durban, South Africa, in December last year it was decided to ensure that the Technology Centres will be operational this year. The EHA is co-organizing a session on this topic at the World Hydrogen Energy Conference in Toronto on June 6, 2012 to further discuss how relevant information on the deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies coudl be integrated in these Technology Centres.

The EHA also visited the HySA Systems Integration & Technology Validation Competence Centre, HySA Systems, co-hosted by the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and the South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry (SAIAMC), and directed by Professor Bruno G. Pollet FRSC. The centre is one of three national Competence Centres that were initiated by the Department of Science and Technology’s National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies (HFCT) Flagship Project, also known as Hydrogen South Africa or HySA. This long-term (15-year) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies (HFCT) Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) strategy was officially launched in September 2008 by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in South Africa.  The overall vision of the HFCT RDI strategy is to bring about wealth, job and IPR creation through the initiation of new high technology industries based on minerals found on South African soil, especially Platinum Group Metals (PGMs). HySA Systems, a Systems Integration and Technology Validation Competence Centre on HFCT was established in 2007 at the SAIAMC at the University of the Western Cape.  The main objective with HySA Systems is to (i) develop HFC systems and prototypes, (ii) perform technology validation and system integration in three key HySA programmes: (1) Combined Heat and Power (CHP), (2) Portable systems and (3) Hydrogen Fuelled Vehicles (HFV).  HySA Systems is also responsible for the development, prototyping, testing, validating and commissioning of the following key technologies: Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs) for High Temperature (HT) (≥120 oC) Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells, HT-PEM fuel cell stacks, metal hydrides for hydrogen storage and compression, Li-ion batteries and system integration of Energy Storage Devices for domestic and automotive applications.

Further Reading »

EHA Annual General Meeting June 28, 2013, 1100 -1530 hrs, Brussels

The 14th EHA Annual General Meeting will tak place on June 28, from 11:00 till 15:30 at our new premises at the House of the European Cities, Municipalities and Regions at Square de Meeûs 1 (1 st floor), 1000 Brussels. The meeting will take place during the EU Sustainable Energy Week that sees a broad program of events this year. We are looking forward to discuss the EHA’s contribution to Europe’s ambition to develop sustainable alternative fuel infrastructure linked to clean power. The EU director for New Energy technologies, innovation and clean coal and responsible for the new SET Plan, Ms. Andreea Strachinescu, has confirmed her presence at the meeting. The latest EU Communication Energy Technologies and Innovation (COM2013/253) includes a reference to the development of integrated roadmaps of different clean energy solutions executed by national action plans.  In combination with the EU ambition in building a sustainable alternative fuel infrastructure (Clean Power for Transport (COM 2013/17), including the first article dedicated to hydrogen in the EU Directive history, these developments point to an increasing role of EHA national hydrogen associations in ensuring the involvement of key national stakeholders including SME.  

..read more Updated 08 Jun, 2013

Spanish & Canadian H2 Associations sign partnership to advance research and development of HFC market

The Spanish Hydrogen Association (AeH2) and the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA) have decided to combine their efforts to promote, in both countries, the research and technology development in the hydrogen and fuel cell sector, thus encouraging the collaboration and cooperation between the partner/member entities of both associations. This agreement is birthed in view of the need to promote advances in the hydrogen sector on an international level, thus providing a meeting point for professionals of the Canadian and Spanish sector. Next June 18, 2013, within the framework of the International Conference: Hydrogen + Fuel Cells 2013 (June 16-19, Vancouver), the President of the AeH2, Mr. José Javier Brey Sánchez, and the President of the CHFCA, Mr. Eric Denhoff, will sign a partnership agreement . Among the planned actions included in the partnership agreement are the following g: To promote the relationship and cooperation among the member entities of both  associations, as well as to further the development of hydrogen and fuel cell technology industry in both countries. To increase bilateral cooperation alliances among companies of the sector from both countries, with a view toward holding technology transfer events (workshops, conferences, seminars, etc.) and to promote the startup [...]

..read more Updated 06 Jun, 2013

Role EHA national member associations crucial in roll out EU alternative fuel infrastructure

This May the EU Commission started the first national rounds with alternative fuel stakeholders to support its ambitions in alternative fuel infrastructure development as included in its proposal for Clean Power for Transport. The Italian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association, with the support of the EHA, is organising one of the first of these meetings where fuel cell and hydrogen sector representatives will meet with the Commission on June 21 in Milan to discuss hydrogen refuelling station rollout in the coming years.  These meetings  are a good example of the role EHA national member associations could play in bringing together key stakeholders to ensure an economically, environmentally sustainable hydrogen infrastructure build up involving SME and regional and local decision makers.

..read more Updated 06 Jun, 2013