European partnership pushing ahead with funding of demonstration projects
The European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) plays a key role in the development – and in particular demonstration – of fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies in a wide range of applications.
The FCH JU is a unique public-private partnership that was established in 2008 to support research, technological development, and demonstration activities in fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies in Europe. It comprises the European Commission, the fuel cell and hydrogen industries represented by the New Energy World Industry Grouping, and the research community through the N.ERGHY Research Grouping.
The FCH JU recently announced funding for a number of fuel cell and hydrogen energy projects. The Don Quichote energy storage R&D and demonstration project will deploy and operate a ‘renewable’ hydrogen storage and fuelling facility that doubles the capacity of a hydrogen station at a Belgian grocery store, and install a fuel cell system for electricity demand leveling. Dutch-based HyET Hydrogen Efficiency Technologies will provide a 350 bar electrochemical compressor, while Hydrogenics will supply a proton-exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser from its Belgian subsidiary (and apparently also the 90 kW fuel cell).
In the UK, AFC Energy and its project partners have been awarded a grant to install the world’s largest, 1 MW alkaline fuel cell power generation system, at the Industrial Chemicals Ltd chlor-alkali plant in Essex.
Elsewhere, the three-year HYPER project will develop and demonstrate a market-ready, portable power pack comprising an integrated modular PEM fuel cell and hydrogen storage system that is readily customised for application across various low-power markets.
In addition, the Phaedrus consortium has been awarded funding to develop an electrochemical high-pressure hydrogen refuelling station for fuel cell electric vehicles, based on ITM Power’s PEM electrolyser technology.
And the Hydrogen Infrastructure for Transport (HIT) project – coordinated by HyER, the European Association for Hydrogen and fuel cells and Electro-mobility in European Regions – aims to stimulate the deployment of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure serving FCEVs along key Trans-European Transport Network corridors, starting with hydrogen stations along a corridor from Gothenburg to Rotterdam.
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