EU hydrogen initiative gets green light[fr][de] 

A Competitiveness Council on 25 February 2008 reached an agreement on the essential elements for the launch of the EU 'Fuel cells and Hydrogen' joint technology initiative (JTI).  

Faced with climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, these technologies are considered by many to be a clean alternative to traditional fossil fuels. For example, when running on hydrogen, the only exhaust product of fuel cells is steam. 

According to the Commission, EU-funded research had found that "introducing hydrogen into the energy system would reduce the total oil consumption by the road transport sector by 40% between now and 2050." But, the EU executive adds that "substantial barriers have first to be overcome" on economic, technological and institutional issues (for more on this issue, see EurActiv 27/10/06). 

Currently, these technologies are not commercially available and further research and technological development is needed before they can be widely used. The aim of the joint public-private research undertaking, agreed by the Council, is thus to speed up the development of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies in Europe to enable their commercialisation between 2010 and 2020.

The EU is set to contribute some €470 million to this research programme over the next six years and the private sector is expected to gather the same amount. Reaching the critical mass of the JTI research effort in this field is expected "to give confidence" to industry, public and private investors and decision-makers to join this long-term partnership.

"Of course, the private sector should act as usual by following their own interest," said Research Commissioner Janez Potočnik, adding that the main role of political actors was to create the right conditions and regulations for market uptake of these technologies "as soon as possible." 

Potočnik also said that, in the short term, energy efficiency and creating conditions for markets to use low carbon energy resources were the most important efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In the long term, however, investment in renewables should be the solution, he added.