London’s Fuel Cell Taxi Fleet Confirmed Under New HyTEC Project
The Intelligent Energy/Lotus London hydrogen fuel cell black cabs are to be deployed under a new European consortium HyTEC – Hydrogen Transport for European Cities, which consists of sixteen companies from five European countries and is part-funded by the FCH JU. The deployment will consist of: one new Air Products refuelling station, fifteen black cabs and five Suzuki Bergmann scooters.
The new hydrogen station will be used in conjunction with the two existing stations used to service the fuel cell buses on the RV1 route, creating the foundation of a London hydrogen infrastructure. The fuel cell taxi, first announced in June 2010 has a top speed of over 80 mph and a range of more than 250 miles has received widespread press over the last year.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson, comments ‘I want London to become a zero-emission city in order to deliver cleaner air and improve quality of life.
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Third Polish Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Forum
The third Polish Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Forum will be held on 29-30 November 2011 in Warsaw as a satellite conference of the SET Plan conference www.setplan2011.pl associated with the acquisition of Poland’s presidency of the European Union.
The theme of the Third Forum will be smart materials for use in hydrogen and renewable energy applications.
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Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Calls for Tenders: Commercialisation Studies
The European Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) has now launched a call for tenders for consultancies able to conduct studies on the commercialisation of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies and competing technologies.
The FCH JU envisages commissioning studies in different sectors where fuel cells and hydrogen technologies are the most promising:
Urban buses
Passenger cars, including EU-wide roll-out of infrastructure
Stationary applications
Material Handling
For each sector, the studies will be supported by a coalition of industrial actors.
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Introduction
The kick-off of new vehicles demo projects under the FCH JU program throughout Europe this autumn, coincides with the launch by the EU Commission of new infrastructure programs that are increasingly referring to the need to start serious integration of low carbon technologies in Europe’s energy and transport system.
The presentation of the EU Connecting Europe Facility on October referred to a budget of € 50 bln to Energy ( € 9 bln), ICT ( € 9 bln) and Transport (€ 32 bln).
Especially the reference to the large budget for the Trans European Network for Transport (TEN T) program, that presented its new new Guidelines on the same date, should open opportunities for the integration of the first infrastructures for alternative fuels like hydrogen. The support of the EU Commission at the launch of HyER (former HyRaMP), ”Hydrogen, fuel cells and Electro-mobility in European Regions”, the association of local authorities hosted by the EHA on October 27 in Brussels is demonstrating that EU decision makers are looking to use the results of past and current demo projects to develop fact based policy and large scale programs to achieve the EU targets set out in the recent Transport White Paper. Linking the first hydrogen hubs that are being build up around the EU demonstration projects, along key corridors in Europe should therefore become part of national and regional strategic development. The EHA together with its 21 national member associations is ready to take on the challenge!
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EU Proposal TEN T Guidelines includes reference to zero emission propulsion systems
The Commission adopted on October 19, 2011 a proposal to transform the existing patchwork of European roads, railways, airports and canals into a unified transport network (TEN-T). The new core network will remove bottlenecks, upgrade infrastructure and streamline cross border transport operations for passengers and businesses throughout the EU. It will improve connections between different modes of transport and contribute to the EU’s climate change objectives. Art 10 on “Priorities” of the proposed new TEN T Guidelines states that “the Union, Member States, infrastructure managers and other project promoters, when developing the comprehensive network, shall give particular consideration to measures that are necessary for ensuring fuel security by allowing the use of alternative and in particular low or zero carbon energy sources and propulsion systems. This proposal also aims at ensuring that strategic energy networks and storage facilities are completed by 2020 with 9,1 billion Euros for energy infrastructure priorities. To this end, the Commission has identified 12 priority corridors and areas covering electricity, gas, oil and carbon dioxide transport networks. It proposes a regime of “common interest” for projects contributing to implementing these priorities and having obtained this label. Energy storage projects will be included. It is not yet clear how much of the budget is dedicated to renewable energy infrastructure.
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Fuel Cell And Hydrogen Joint Undertaking 4th Stakeholder’s General Assembly
The 4th Stakeholders’ General Assembly of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking brings together a broad range of European and global stakeholders from sectors including research, industry and financial communities, policy makers and international partners. Participants will gather to discuss and exchange views on achievements and the future developments of Fuel Cells and Hydrogen technologies, and benefit from networking opportunities.
The first day is devoted to a Programme Review. Its objective is to assess the progress of the portfolio of fuel cells and hydrogen projects in relation to the targets of the Multi-annual Implementation Plan (MAIP) and annual implementation plan as well as with reference to international developments in the field. The Programme review is also expected to feed debates and exchanges of the Stakeholders general assembly the next day.
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32 European regions aim “HyER”
October 27-28th During the 4th HyRaMP AGM, 32 member regions agreed to aim “HyER” in accelerating zero emissions vehicles.  HyRaMP has now changed to become “HyER”, Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Electromobility in European Regions. The event presented the new structure of the organisation, and welcomed two new members, the City of Rotterdam and the Region of Poitou Charentes.
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‘The Business Case for Fuel Cells 2011’
Fuel Cells 2000 has released ‘The Business Case for Fuel Cells 2011: Energizing America’s Top Companies’, which follows on from last year’s ‘Why Top Companies are Purchasing Fuel Cells Today’. The report offers a brief introduction to fuel cells; their benefits in stationary, warehouse and backup power operations; and fuel cell financing, including power purchase agreements.
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6th International Renewable Energy Storage Conference and Exhibition (IRES 2011), Berlin
The next IRES conference in 2011 will take place at the bcc Berlin Congress Center on November 30, 2011. IRES 2010 attracted attendance from 41 countries with 600 attendees.
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5th International Seminar on Advances in Hydrogen Energy – Portugal
The  4th International Seminar on Advances in Hydrogen Energy: Opportunities and Challenges in a Hydrogen Economy, will take place on the 10-11th of November in Viana do Castelo, Portugal. EHA will be there!
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