Hydrogen & Fuel Cells: the way to a sustainable energy future, reduced dependence on oil, and increased energy security? Is Europe competing and what more should be done?

Speaker: Prof. Dr. Werner Tillmetz, Solar Hydrogen Centre Ulm, Germany

The growing world economy, especially in China, coupled with concerns in the developed world on the impact of transportation and energy generation on CO2 emissions, increased dependence on oil, and on clean air, is focusing attention on Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology as a way to resolve this conundrum.

The European Commission has established a Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform “to facilitate and accelerate the development and deployment of cost competitive world class European Hydrogen and Fuel based energy systems and component technologies for application in transport, stationary and portable power.” The first annual report of the Platform will be made in Brussels on 17 March 2005.

One of the instruments the European Commission will use to pursue a research and deployment strategy for hydrogen and fuel cells is the 7th Research, Technology Development and Demonstration Programme covering the period 2006–10, possibly 2006-13.

This is a critical period for Fuel Cell Technology. The Commission’s recommendations will be presented to Parliament in the spring of 2005.

The purpose of this event was to debate whether Europe is doing enough to promote the development of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells or does it risk losing out to the competition from USA, Japan and China with a consequent negative impact on employment.