Europeans launch Fuel Cell and Hydrogen JTI in Brussels
Representatives of industry, the research community and the European
institutions launched the EUR 1 billion Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint
Technology Initiative (JTI) at an event in Brussels, Belgium on 14
October.
'This is a significant moment for the hydrogen and fuel cell industry,'
stated Professor Herbert Kohler, Vice-President of Vehicle and
Powertrain at Daimler, adding that the launch of the JTI marked the
culmination of several years of work by a lot of people across a range
of sectors.
Over the next six years, the Commission and industry will plough almost
EUR 500 million each into the initiative, with the aim of accelerating
the development of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and bringing
them to the market by 2020. It is estimated that the JTI's activities
will reduce the time to market for these technologies by two to five
years.
The new JTI brings together over 60 private companies, including small
and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large multinationals, together
with leading energy research groups from across Europe. 'This is the
smartest way of working together, moving in the same direction towards
a shared goal,' said Professor Kohler.
The JTI has been set up as a Joint Undertaking under Article 171 of the
EC Treaty. Its work will be overseen by a Governing Board comprising
representatives from research, industry and the Commission. An
Executive Director and the Programme Office will manage the day-to-day
running of the organisation. Further input will come from three
advisory boards.
'The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative is the best
possible vehicle to accelerate the development of technologies and
bring the commercialisation of hydrogen and fuel cells forward,' added
Gijs van Breda Vriesman, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Joint
Undertaking.
'To prepare the market for these strategic technologies it is necessary
to ensure the cooperation of all stakeholders: it is not only needed
for the relevant industrial sectors to develop the supply chain, but it
is also critical to ensure the cooperation between research, industry
and government, at regional, national and European level.'
The JTI will focus its efforts on four main areas: transportation and
hydrogen refuelling infrastructure; hydrogen production and
distribution; stationary power generation and combined heat and power
(CHP); and early markets (fuel cell products that are almost ready for
commercialisation). The JTI's first call for proposals, which has a
budget of EUR 28.1 million, has already been launched.
'By investing in such a results-oriented scientific project, we are
putting our money where our mouth is: the development of new energy
technologies is crucial if we are to meet EU objectives to address
climate change and energy challenges,' commented the EU Science and
Research Commissioner, Janez Potocnik. 'This JTI brings together the
most significant players to put Europe ahead of the game in new energy
technologies. I hope this will have a snowball effect in other
strategic research areas.'
The EU's Council of Ministers gave the green light to the establishment
of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen JTI at the end of May 2008. Other JTIs
to have been established so far focus on innovative medicines (IMI),
embedded computer systems (ARTEMIS), nanoelectronics (ENIAC) and
aeronautics and air transport (Clean Sky).
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform
Source: Community R&D Information Service (CORDIS)