Introduction
Along with the summer sun comes new opportunity and milestones for the future of hydrogen and fuel cell promotion and deployment. The French Hydrogen Association (AFH2) and the French Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Platform (HyPaC) will join their efforts to accelerate the hydrogen and fuel cell technologies’ deployment in France in a new strong national structure which will federate the hydrogen and fuel cell community in France. Materials Handling applications received a lift when Ballard Power Systems committed to purchase a minimum 3,250 fuel cell stacks over the next 18-month period, for use in the material handling market. The HyLIFT-DEMO project held it’s second project meeting this month in Herning, Denmark. During the meeting the prototype forklift for the project was presented. EHA is a partner in both HyLIFT-DEMO and the SHEL project, which will demonstrate fuel cell and hydrogen forklift truck applications in various sites in Europe. Fuel Cell and Hydrogen technologies are foreseen to also reach new markets in developing countries. The European Business and Technology Centre (EBTC) and the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) will explore the prospects for hydrogen as a key fuel in the future energy system during the ‘Environment and Energy Conclave’ from 25-27th of August in Kalkata, India. The delegation places hydrogen at center stage within a panel discussion ‘Hydrogen: How is it delivering the fuel of the future?’ The public is now able to take part in the work of two European funded projects HyFACTS and FC-HyGuide. HyFACTS has publicized a survey targeted towards regulatory and safety officials able to provide feedback on hydrogen and fuel cell authorization procedures and training of officials in Europe. FC-HyGuide is offering training courses geared to provide interested participants a step-by-step guide on Life Cycle Assessment of hydrogen production and fuel cells. Courses will take place September 2011. (more information on European projects is found below)
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Bristol’s hydrogen ferry wins sustainable shipping award
Bristol Hydrogen Boats has won SustainableShipping.com’s inaugural Environmental Innovation of the Year Award.
The Award recognises Bristol Hydrogen Boats for their pioneering work to develop the UK’s first hydrogen ferry. The ferry will run in Bristol’s harbour from September this year.
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Class 8 Hydrogen Truck Delivered by Vision Industries
Vision Industries Corp. on July 22nd delivered the world’s first zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell-electric Class 8 truck to Total Transportation Services Inc. (TTSI), a national trucking company that will put the vehicle to test in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
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Carmakers to get carbon credits for ‘eco-innovation’
Brussels hopes to nudge the automobile industry towards meeting the Union’s goal of limiting CO2 emissions with the help of CO2 emissions credits for car manufacturers if their new cars are fitted with approved ‘eco-innovations’ under legislation adopted by the European Commission on 25 July.
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FC Lighting System at Space Shuttle Launch
A mobile lighting system powered by a fuel cell was used at the launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis on July 8th 2011. The hydrogen fuel cell provided power to an advanced, proprietary Light Emitting Plasma (LEP) lighting system in the press area, plus up to 2.5 kW additional auxiliary power.
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FP7 Information Days – 2012 calls
In order to support the preparation of proposals for the new Calls for Proposals and preparation for proposals on Energy and other topics under the FP7, the European Commission’s Directorates-General are organising various Information Days in July 2011 in the Charlemagne Building, rue de la Loi n° 170, in Brussels: July 7, 11-12, and 18-19.
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EU Multi Annual Framework is Connecting Europe’s Infrastructures
In the EU Commission's Multi Annual Framework for 2014 -2020, that was presented on June 29, 2011, with a total budget of €1,025 billion in ..read on»

FP7 Information Days – 2012 calls
In order to support the preparation of proposals for the new Calls for Proposals and preparation for proposals on Energy and other topics under the ..read on»

European Energy Efficiency Fund (EEE–F) Launched
On 1st July 2011, the Commission launched a new European Energy Efficiency Fund (EEE-F) as part of the European Energy Programme for Recovery (EEPR). It will allocate around EUR 146 million from the EEPR (3.7% of the total EEPR envelope) towards a new financial facility dedicated to projects in energy efficiency and renewable energies. This EU contribution comes from funds mobilised for the EEPR in 2009 which could not immediately be allocated to projects in the sectors of infrastructure, off-shore wind and carbon capture and storage. The setting up of the fund follows an agreement between the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament in December 2010 to a European Commission proposal. The EEE-F will invest in energy saving, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, particularly in urban settings, achieving at least 20% energy saving or GHG/CO2 emission reduction.
The fund will offer a wide range of financial products such as senior and junior loans, guarantees or equity participation to local, regional and (where justified) national public authorities to promote sustainable energy investments.
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Hydrogen Station Opens in Denmark
A 700 bar fast-fill hydrogen refuelling station opened this week in Holstebro, Denmark. Capable of refuelling a fuel cell vehicle in less than three minutes, this station is the first of its type in the area and is one of the first steps towards forming a countrywide network by 2015; networks of this type will be needed by then to meet the demands of fuel cell vehicle fleets scheduled for commercialisation at that time.
Developed by H2 Logic A/S and operated by Danish energy company Vestforsyning A/S the project was supported by funding from the Danish EUDP program. Built in accordance with standard SAE J 2601, the station features a standardised dispenser nozzle and meets other requirements for speed of refuelling; hence it will be universally suitable for use with fuel cell vehicles meeting this standard.
The ultimate aim of projects like this is to attract the initial rollouts of fuel cell vehicles through facilitating the necessary infrastructure. A B-Class Mercedes F-CELL was showcased alongside the station to demonstrate the refuelling technology.
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