Will fuel cells help Europe meet its energy challenges?
Dinner-Debate
at the invitation of World Fuel Cell Council
Event date(s) :
2007/04/24
Item's Code :
DD20070424
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Speaker: Marcus Nurdin, Senior Adviser and Honorary President, World Fuel Cell Council
The presentation will provide an overview of the advantages provided by fuel cells and hydrogen and how these could address the environmental and economic challenges associated with future energy demand, in particular reduced emissions of Greenhouse Gases and Toxic pollutants and improved energy security through increased diversity of locally available primary energy sources.
A number of European Regions and Cities have initiated significant demonstration and deployment programmes for hydrogen and fuel cells - a brief outline will be provided.
The purpose of this event is to debate if fuel cells are likely to make a serious contribution to environmental and energy security challenges, and, should the occasion arise, what Europe must do to ensure full participation in an emerging global industry. Or, conversely, do we risk losing out to the
[Press Release from Fuel Cell Europe]
See the Presentation of Mr Marcus Nurdin
Tuesday night in Strasbourg, Members of the European Parliament brought extrasupport to the fuel cell industry after discussing with Fuel Cell Europe the key rolethese energy conversion devices can play in addressing Europe’s energy challenges,during a two hour discussion round table.
While opening the debate, Marcus Nurdin, President of Fuel Cell Europe, re-iterated theimportance of having the European Parliament taking leadership to ensure politicalcommitment to fuel cell and hydrogen technologies at European and regional level.He welcomed the Written Declaration initiated by MEPs Gurmai, Wijkman, Prodi,Guidoni and Turmes on “establishing a green hydrogen economy and a third industrialrevolution in Europe”. Nurdin called on the European Parliament to “actively supportthe industry led Joint Technology Initiative (JTI) on fuel cells and hydrogen”.
Reacting to the presentation, Claude Turmes (Green, Luxembourg) supportedindustries’ views about fuel cell prospects for early markets such as portable powerand light urban vehicles (scooters). He also mentioned CHP units and their advantagein delivering a greater share of electrical energy versus heat, compared to othercogeneration technologies. Referring to the JTI, Turmes questioned whether this wouldnot create a new very complex and bureaucratic European process to bring innovationto the market. He finally questioned whether hydrogen fuel cell technology was thebest prospect for automotive applications.
Responding to Turmes’ comments, Klaus Bonhoff, DaimlerChrysler, explained that“while technology diversification is needed to handle upcoming transport challengesand while interim technology options such as hybrids and biofuels will be pursued, fuelcell hydrogen cars remain the best technology option to manage simultaneouslyenergy efficiency, greenhouse gas reduction and oil dependency challenges intransport”. Bonhoff confirmed industry’s firm commitment to a JTI on fuel cells andhydrogen, considered as a unique mechanism that will guarantee risk-sharing, stableinvestment periods (10 years) and leverage of public and private funds. Bonhoff calledupon the European Parliament to support the creation of the JTI as early as possible.
Giles Chichester (EPP, UK), President of the European Energy Forum, questionedindustry on financing of fuel cells’ innovation and market introduction processes. PhilDoran, Core Technology Ventures, explained that, European innovative fuel cell startupswere, on the one hand, faced to major challenges in getting access to equity (inthe USA, for instance, venture capital companies are more active); on the other hand,these same companies are penalised by too weak public intervention mechanisms inEurope. These two challenges put European fuel cell companies in a difficult position inthe global competitive environment. He compared this situation to the role of the USadministration and its’ defence sector which invest massively in public procurementsfor fuel cell equipments; these interventions contribute to create necessary volume andtechnology maturing effects. Doran remained very optimistic about the industryprospects but urged European decision makers to work hard on these two aspects.
Stating “biomass is the best route for hydrogen production”, Vittorio Prodi (ALDE,Italy) asked industry to provide guidance on the best systemic approach to futuresustainable energy infrastructures. Prodi called upon his MEP colleagues to furthersupport “concrete early market applications such as hydrogen fuel cell buses, wheregreat scaling effects can be achieved on costs once hundreds of units are beingproduced”.
Michael Bode, CFC, explained that a “number of fuel cell stationary power plants werealready operating in Europe on biogas, achieving up to 90% combined electricity andheat energy efficiency”. Bode acknowledged the very positive role of public incentives,and referred to the German government, because they help accelerate the introductionof fuel cell technologies. He invited European institutions to develop measuring toolsfor valuing greenhouse gas emission reductions that fuel cell systems can generate.
The evening ended on a very positive feeling from different parties; further cooperationprojects are currently being discussed with some highly invested MEPs and substantialfuture developments will be reported on.
The debateattracted 21 MEPs or assistants from various countries and political affiliations, fuel cell, nuclear and petrolindustry experts as well as representatives from the Council of Europe and Member States. While invited theEuropean Commission was unable to attend.
Contact person: Patrick Maio
p.maio@fuelcelleurope.org
+32 22 11 34 14
Fuel Cell Europe c/o World Fuel Cell Council e.V.
Frankfurter Strasse 10, D-65760 Eschborn, Germany
While opening the debate, Marcus Nurdin, President of Fuel Cell Europe, re-iterated theimportance of having the European Parliament taking leadership to ensure politicalcommitment to fuel cell and hydrogen technologies at European and regional level.He welcomed the Written Declaration initiated by MEPs Gurmai, Wijkman, Prodi,Guidoni and Turmes on “establishing a green hydrogen economy and a third industrialrevolution in Europe”. Nurdin called on the European Parliament to “actively supportthe industry led Joint Technology Initiative (JTI) on fuel cells and hydrogen”.
Reacting to the presentation, Claude Turmes (Green, Luxembourg) supportedindustries’ views about fuel cell prospects for early markets such as portable powerand light urban vehicles (scooters). He also mentioned CHP units and their advantagein delivering a greater share of electrical energy versus heat, compared to othercogeneration technologies. Referring to the JTI, Turmes questioned whether this wouldnot create a new very complex and bureaucratic European process to bring innovationto the market. He finally questioned whether hydrogen fuel cell technology was thebest prospect for automotive applications.
Responding to Turmes’ comments, Klaus Bonhoff, DaimlerChrysler, explained that“while technology diversification is needed to handle upcoming transport challengesand while interim technology options such as hybrids and biofuels will be pursued, fuelcell hydrogen cars remain the best technology option to manage simultaneouslyenergy efficiency, greenhouse gas reduction and oil dependency challenges intransport”. Bonhoff confirmed industry’s firm commitment to a JTI on fuel cells andhydrogen, considered as a unique mechanism that will guarantee risk-sharing, stableinvestment periods (10 years) and leverage of public and private funds. Bonhoff calledupon the European Parliament to support the creation of the JTI as early as possible.
Giles Chichester (EPP, UK), President of the European Energy Forum, questionedindustry on financing of fuel cells’ innovation and market introduction processes. PhilDoran, Core Technology Ventures, explained that, European innovative fuel cell startupswere, on the one hand, faced to major challenges in getting access to equity (inthe USA, for instance, venture capital companies are more active); on the other hand,these same companies are penalised by too weak public intervention mechanisms inEurope. These two challenges put European fuel cell companies in a difficult position inthe global competitive environment. He compared this situation to the role of the USadministration and its’ defence sector which invest massively in public procurementsfor fuel cell equipments; these interventions contribute to create necessary volume andtechnology maturing effects. Doran remained very optimistic about the industryprospects but urged European decision makers to work hard on these two aspects.
Stating “biomass is the best route for hydrogen production”, Vittorio Prodi (ALDE,Italy) asked industry to provide guidance on the best systemic approach to futuresustainable energy infrastructures. Prodi called upon his MEP colleagues to furthersupport “concrete early market applications such as hydrogen fuel cell buses, wheregreat scaling effects can be achieved on costs once hundreds of units are beingproduced”.
Michael Bode, CFC, explained that a “number of fuel cell stationary power plants werealready operating in Europe on biogas, achieving up to 90% combined electricity andheat energy efficiency”. Bode acknowledged the very positive role of public incentives,and referred to the German government, because they help accelerate the introductionof fuel cell technologies. He invited European institutions to develop measuring toolsfor valuing greenhouse gas emission reductions that fuel cell systems can generate.
The evening ended on a very positive feeling from different parties; further cooperationprojects are currently being discussed with some highly invested MEPs and substantialfuture developments will be reported on.
The debateattracted 21 MEPs or assistants from various countries and political affiliations, fuel cell, nuclear and petrolindustry experts as well as representatives from the Council of Europe and Member States. While invited theEuropean Commission was unable to attend.
Contact person: Patrick Maio
p.maio@fuelcelleurope.org
+32 22 11 34 14
Fuel Cell Europe c/o World Fuel Cell Council e.V.
Frankfurter Strasse 10, D-65760 Eschborn, Germany
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