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The European Think Tank Bruegel launched a study sponsored by the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking FCH JU, entitled “Public Support for the Energy and Transport System Transition” on February 2, 2012, calling for the integration of transport in Europe’s Emission Trading System to ensure the rapid commercialisation of  new technologies like fuel cell powered vehicles. “To enable the private sector to make the necessary investments for development and deployment of the technologies needed for the energy and transport system transition, a set of smart policies needs to be implemented.” Michael Holtermann the Project Leader of European School of Management and Technology‘s Market Model Electric Mobility Project reflected. The Bruegel suggests that “the cost of carbon in different sectors needs to be aligned in order to stimulate efficient emission-mitigation behaviour”. Therefore transport should be included in the ETS combined with a carbon component in the fuel price to ensure that  modal choice decisions take the carbon cost into account.  The study also believes that by letting public banks issue options on the carbon price, thus increasing their exposure to the carbon price, could serve as a tool to commit future policymakers to ensuring the reliability of the system over decades. As a third option  Bruegel proposes to higher  emission standards for certain [...]

The goal of the GRID4EU project is to carry on demonstration pilots of Smart Grids solutions on a large scale basis. It proposes solutions that go beyond the existing limits for electricity networks through the large scale integration of distributed generation, the improvement of energy efficiency, the enabling and integration of active demand and new electricity uses.

Sorry, this entry is only available in Italiano.

European Union took on legally binding commitments in the fight against greenhouse gas emissions. The policies of Member Countries are based on incentives of green energy consumption. United States and China instead are the protagonists in green technologies and products production. It would be desirable to have a common industrial policy that promotes exports toEurope, avoiding fragmentation of initiatives and to take stronger action on the taxation of goods imported from Countries with environmental legislation, and cost less stringent than those in Europe.

Over the last five years there has been a twenty-fold increase in shipments of fuel cells with year-on-year growth in both units and megawatts shipped. In 2010, total shipments of fuel cells grew by 40% compared with the previous year, approaching a new high of 230,000 units.

Since 2003 Assolombarda and Milan Chamber of Commerce give voice, along with businesses and citizens request, to the need to strengthen and improve the infrastructure and mobility services: the major factors for economic development and competitiveness of our cities, our territories and the whole Country. The Mobility Conference is an opportunity to take stock of what has been achieved in the past decade and what remains to be done. The objectives of this edition are to promote the development of infrastructure and transport services, dissemination of knowledge on issues of crucial importance for the whole Country, the enhancement of products and solutions offered by italian companies. Among the scheduled conferences should be noted: Energy infrastructure and market competition The set of European directives and regulations of the Third Energy Package accelerated the development of competitive energy markets in Europe. This development, to be effective, must have a more integrated infrastructure system than the current one in support of the movement of energy between the European Regions. The conference aims to address the issue of infrastructural facilities for energy flows within the Country, to identify problems and solutions to allow a prospective evaluation of the energy market in Europe. Here the link to the full program.

“Large European car manufacturers are investing on e-mobility, I hope that Italy will be able to strengthen its own production capacity” these are the words of Minister Clini. “We became importers of photovoltaic modules, rather than take the opportunity of incentives to stimulate domestic production,” said the minister explaining the importance of strengthening the capacity of Italian production.

The new programme – UKH2Mobility – will evaluate the potential for hydrogen as a fuel for Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles in the UK before developing an action plan for an anticipated roll-out to consumers in 2014/15.

The Report explains, Transitions in fuel supply infrastructure and vehicles will be needed for all new transport fuels. These transitions may need to be encouraged or mandated throughout all EU Member States and coordinated at the EU level in order to drive the market forward.

€ 150 million’s worth have been allocated for the support of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies through research and demonstration projects, with € 77, 5 million from the European Commission matched by in-kind contributions from industry and research organisations. The 2012 call covers 31 topics divided into 5 application areas: transportation and refuelling infrastructure; hydrogen production and distribution; stationary power generation, early markets and cross-cutting issues.