Newsletter May 2011older posts »

Introduction

This newsletter, the fruit of the collaboration between H2IT and CReSV (Center for Research on Sustainability and Value at Bocconi University), wants to address the issue: “funding” for the development and dissemination of technologies related to hydrogen.

The EU awareness of the high innovation potential of hydrogen-related technologies is supported by funds worth over € 200 million allocated in 2011 by Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking in support of research projects and demonstration. The FCH JU 2011 call is the biggest of all calls planned for the duration of the programme. In Italy, although there is no a defined schedule for the development and deployment of hydrogen technologies, the Veneto Region opened a public tender for research and experimental development of hydrogen technologies by allocating funding for a total of about € 6 million. The Ministry of Economy allocated € 50 million to finance six projects of the National Research Council. The town of Perugia has received € 633.000 allocated by the European Commission (under the Life program) for the project “H2 Power Hydrogen in Fuel Gas”.

New CNR research projects on hydrogen and fuel cells

The Italian Ministry of Economy allocated € 50 million in three years to finance six projects of the National Research Council. Among the six funded research projects is also:

the project Efor coordinated by the Department of Innovation Engineering at University of Salento. It aims to develop new technologies for photovoltaics and hydrogen production. The project goal is to create third generation photovoltaic panels and equipment able to reduce the environmental impact and costs and maximize the production. The research also includes the bio-production of hydrogen through processes economically and environmentally more convenient.

Regione Veneto: public tender for research and development of hydrogen technologies

On April 26, 2011 the Veneto Region has published a public call for access to grants for the research and experimental development on hydrogen technology. The notice was published under the directions (set out in the addendum to the program agreement between the Veneto Region and the Ministry of Environment for the realization of a hydrogen district at PortoMarghera) which states that support measures should promote lines of action aimed at the strengthening of a technology supply chain capable of addressing the environmental sustainability of economic growth and competitiveness.
The recipients of contributions, for a total of € 5.816.274, are large, small and medium-sized enterprises on an individual basis or in combination.

F-CELL World Drive reaches Stuttgart

The RAI TV program easy rider showed the arrival of the three Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL vehicles with zero local emissions in front of the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, after more than 30.000 kilometers.

The hydrogen-powered B-Classes and their support vehicles set off from Stuttgart at the end of January on the occasion of the official 125th birthday of the automobile, and on their way have crossed through 14 countries on four continents.

“With the F-CELL World Drive we have shown, that the time for electric vehicles with fuel cell has come. Now the development of the infrastructure has to pick up speed,” said Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

H2IT conference: “The Italian Hydrogen Way”

Since Hydrogen as an energy carrier and hydrogen applications, as fuel cells, are considered to play an important role in Europe’s energy and transport future, the conference “The Italian hydrogen way” organized by Italian Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Association (H2IT), presenting what is already happening in the EU and in Germany, as the most advanced country in Europe, would like to call for more attention to Italy’s contribution to this sector.

The Italian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association H2IT is convinced that, even in the absence of national programs and regional strategies, Italian industrial and scientific competence throughout the hydrogen and fuel cell value chain is significant.