Est. 2min 11-10-2007 (updated: 28-05-2012 ) Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram The Commission has proposed simplifying market approval for hydrogen-powered cars and support research with €470 million over the next six years. However, Brussels admits that the technology will have little impact for 10-15 years. The Commission adopted, on 10 October 2007, its first ‘hydrogen package’. This includes a proposal for a regulation to simplify the market approval of hydrogen cars and a proposal for a regulation setting up the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative (JTI). The package is said to offer “long term solutions for sustainable energy and transport systems, which will benefit society by mitigating the adverse effects of climate change and toxic pollutants, and reducing dependency on diminishing oil and gas reserves.” The proposal to simplify market approval for hydrogen cars is “an example of a regulation that stimulates innovation by providing for a clear framework and the necessary stability for industry,” said Science and Research Commissioner Janez Poto?nik. “The hydrogen JTI is a prime example of the sort of tools available to us as we develop our energy policy,” he added. However, Commissioner Günter Verheugen said that, even though it presents a promising technological option, he was “not convinced that the hydrogen car will be the car of the future” but thought it was important to give this technology a opportunity to prove whether it will work. “I don’t know whether it will work some day. In any case it is sure that the technology will have no impact in the next 10-15 years.” Verheugen also said that one needs to ensure that the production of hydrogen does not itself lead to an increase in CO2 emissions. “Hydrogen technology for vehicles is only viable in so far as we guarantee that he hydrogen itself is not obtained from fossil energy sources,” he said, adding that it could be produced by nuclear power as the “EU does not have anti-nuclear policy”. The hydrogen JTI will get €470 million from the budget of the FP7 over the next six years and the industry has committed to matching at least the same amount. Read more with Euractiv ERA: Commission 'should facilitate, not regulate' Preliminary results of a broad consultation on the future of the European Research Area (ERA) show that scientists prefer voluntary cooperation, networking and exchange of best practice to binding legislative action at European level. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters Positions"The introduction of hydrogen vehicles has the potential to make Europe's air cleaner and reduce its dependency on fossil fuels. Setting common standards will support the introduction of these vehicles and ensure high safety for citizens. It will also boost the competitiveness of European manufacturers," said Commissioner Günter Verheugen, responsible for enterprise and industry. Green MEP Claude Turmes found it "regrettable that the European Commission is still wasting time flogging the dead horse of hydrogen cars when even the car industry itself has abandoned the dream that the technology will be viable in the near future." "There are clear solutions to the environmental damage caused by vehicle emissions that will deliver real results in the short-term, such as through the enforcement of ambitious efficiency standards or the promotion of hybrid vehicles. The Commission should have the courage to promote these solutions as part of a sustainable transport policy and not hide behind smokescreens like hydrogen cars," said Turmes. BusinessEurope has repeatedly urged the need to establish the JTIs on time. "FP7 is already nine months old," it recalls. "The JTIs are key to its ultimate success and they are still only in the approval stage." The organisation is therefore urging the Council to make decisions on the proposals by the end of this year "at the very latest." BusinessEurope also wants to draw attention to the fact that the Commission, in its proposals for Council regulations establishing the JTIs, has put forward statutes establishing them as 'Community bodies'. "From a legal point of view there now appears to be difficulties in having a 'Community body' operate as a genuine 'public-private partnership'. A solution to this impasse needs to be found quickly so that the participation of industry in the JTIs can be made more attractive," urges the business association. The European Hydrogen Association welcomed the proposal for JTI underlining that "the sussesful integration of the use of hydrogen and fuel cells in Europe's fossil based energy and transport system will require political commitment at all levels to include hydrogen and fuel cell technology together with other clean technologies in the new EU and national Energymix." BackgroundJoint Technology Initiatives (JTIs) - part of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme for Research (FP7) - are set to be long-term public-private partnerships on strategic-research areas, combining private-sector investment with national and European public funding. They establish EU-wide public-private partnerships (PPPs) on research topics defined by industry and represent a move away from the traditional approach of case-by-case public funding of projects. In June 2005, the Commission identified six areas in which JTIs could be established. These are: innovative medicines, embedded computing systems, aeronautics and air transport, hydrogen and fuel cells, nanoelectronics technologies 2020, and global monitoring for environment and security. Official proposals have so far been tabled on innovative medicines (IMI), embedded computing systems (ARTEMIS), nano-electronics technologies (ENIAC) and aeronautics and air transport (CLEAN SKY). Timeline 28 Sep 2007: The Council held an exchange of views on the JTI proposals currently on the table. Further ReadingEU official documents Commission:Proposal for a regulation on type-approval of hydrogen powered motor vehicles and amending Directive(10 October 2007) [FR] [FR] [DE] Commission press release:Commission promotes take-up of hydrogen cars and the development of hydrogen technologies(10 October 2007) [FR] [FR] [DE] Commission:Energy research - Hydrogen Commission memo:Joint Technology Initiatives, a new EU research initiative: Frequently asked questions(15 May 2007) Political Groups The Greens/EFA press release:Commission flogging the dead horse of hydrogen cars(10 October 2007) Business & Industry BusinessEurope:Ahead of the Competitiveness Council on 28 September 2007 - Letter from BUSINESSEUROPE President, Ernest-Antoine Seillière, to Manuel Pinho, Portuguese Minister for Economy and Innovation(24 September 2007)
