Steve Barrett

The European hydrogen and fuel cell Strategic Research Agenda and Deployment Strategy

In the April issue we reported on the European Commissions Second Annual General Meeting of its European Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Technology Platform, which discussed the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) and Deployment Strategy (DS) documents that it published at the end of 2004. Here we look at the key points of the SRA and DS reports, and their recommendations to bring hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to market in order to exploit their outstanding environmental and economic potential.

FCVs will be a key element in European vehicle powertrains portfolio to achieve 2050 goals

This article summarizes the conclusions of a recent study carried out by management consultancy McKinsey on behalf of a European industry-government consortium. We extract the key findings in the report, A portfolio of power-trains for Europe: a fact-based analysis, in particular as they relate to fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) and the associated hydrogen refueling infrastructure. The study takes into account the estimated costs of scaling up a sufficient hydrogen infrastructure, and finds that they are not a barrier for market acceptance of FCVs.

Marine applications of fuel cell technology

Abstract This article reviews a number of programs, mainly in the US and Europe, for the design, development and — in a few cases — production of fuel cells for marine applications.

Regional focus on fuel cells R&D: California

Abstract With its enormous economic power and strong reputation for high technology, it comes as no longer great surprise that California is a major region for fuel cells research and development, both at the numerous academic and government research institutions, and at the corporate level as the different technologies move towards commersialisation. This overview describes the activities of the various organisations in the state, and the major projects and collaborative programmes under way.

European Expert Group reports on future transport fuels

The European Expert Group on Future Transport Fuels recently published its report on the future of fuels for transportation in the European Union. While this covered the range of alternative fuel options, from synthetic and biofuels to natural/biomethane and LPG, it also anticipates the increasing use of electricity and hydrogen in transportation out to 2050. This article extracts the reports analysis of hydrogen in fuel cell vehicles, within the overall context of EU policy development to 2050.

HySA Infrastructure: producing and using hydrogen for energy in South Africa

The Hydrogen South Africa (HySA) strategy was established to take better advantage of the countrys huge platinum group metal (PGM) resources, i.e. PGM beneficiation. HySA comprises three Centres of Competence: HySA Infrastructure, HySA Catalysis, and HySA Systems. This article presents an overview of HySA, and the role of the HySA Infrastructure Centre of Competence, whose scope is to develop applications and solutions for small- and medium-scale hydrogen production through innovative research and development to promote PGMs.

AFC Energy hitting milestones to commercialise large-scale alkaline fuel cell systems

UK-based AFC Energy is developing alkaline fuel cell technology, and will shortly have a demonstration system operational in Stade, Germany as part of the EU-funded Power-Up project. We caught up with CEO Adam Bond, to find out how the company is approaching commercialisation, and talked about the challenge of its well-publicised milestones.

Hydrogen energy partnership for London

Abstract London is starting to take major strides towards developing a hydrogen and fuel cell energy economy, with the launch last spring of the London Hydrogen Partnership. This article explains the structure and workings of the Partnership, and reviews progress so far on developing a London Hydrogen Action Plan.

HySA/Catalysis: Creating opportunities from South Africa's mineral wealth

In this third and final part of a series of feature articles [see our June and October 2013 issues] on South Africas national flagship programme in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies (branded as Hydrogen South Africa, HySA), we take a look at how the commercial goal of capturing 25% of the global fuel cell and hydrogen catalyst market by 2020 will be achieved.

Progress in the European Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Technology Platform

In mid-March the European Commission hosted the Second Annual General Meeting of its European Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Technology Platform, to discuss the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) and Deployment Strategy (DS) documents that it published at the end of 2004. Here we report on the strategic overview of progress so far and recommendations for future actions, while in the next issue we will look at the key points of the SRA and DS reports.