Tag: hydrogen

Germany is investigating the potential of converting wind power to hydrogen as an energy source in the wake of the country’s decision to move away from nuclear power.

Despite the economic crisis and the struggle to save the euro, the European dream is not dead yet: what Europe needs is an "economic vision and game plan that would create a seamless, distributive energy grid" to build a third industrial revolution, said Jeremy Rifkin, author of 'The European Dream', in an interview with EurActiv.

Parliament yesterday (3 September) backed Commission proposals to boost the development of hydrogen vehicles, but warned that the strategy would fail without concrete measures to support the establishment of a Europe-wide filling station network for hydrogen powered vehicles.

Biofuels and other alternative fuels have huge potential to help reduce energy consumption and meet sustainability objectives in the transport sector, particularly for aviation, according to a World Energy Council (WEC) study.

The Commission needs to find a single 'master structure' for the future large-scale public-private partnerships realised in format of Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs), says Herbert Wancura, vice-chair of the hydrogen and fuel-cells industry grouping.

Hydrogen vehicles hold the promise of curing the world's oil dependency while making transport-related air pollution and CO2 emissions history. But sceptics point out that hydrogen is clean only if produced from renewable sources of energy.

Automobile-sector research represents 30% of overall EU industrial R&D. Most investments are made to reconcile the need to reduce emissions with our dependence on fossil fuels and the demand for enhanced mobility.

Hype or the 'Holy Grail', hydrogen energy is set to follow in the footsteps of Galileo and become the next EU Joint Technology Initiative.

To improve security of energy supply and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the EU has set itself the objective of a 10% substitution of traditional fuels in the road transport sector (gasoline and conventional diesel) by alternative fuels before the year 2020. Three alternative solutions are seen as promising: biofuels, natural gas and hydrogen.

Several MEPs called on 12 September for a fundamental shift away from the oil era into the green hydrogen economy. But is their initiative based on science or inspired by political hype?

A debate organised by think-tank Friends of Europe concluded that there was a need for a co-ordinated approach to alternative fuels from all stakeholders and politicians, particularly at member state level.

The Commission has launched a platform for public and private stakeholders to promote the transition of the EU to a hydrogen economy.

Industry representatives and NGOs discussed the challenges and opportunities of a 'hydrogen economy' in a debate organised by Friends of Europe on 13 October.

In a Communication published on 10 September, the Commission presented a roadmap towards a European Partnership for a sustainable hydrogen economy in an effort to decrease the EU's dependence on fossil fuels.

A two-day EU conference from 16-17 June will focus on the potential role that hydrogen and fuel cells can play in achieving a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy future.