WRITTEN QUESTION P-1786/02

by Ari Vatanen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 June 2002)

Subject: Promoting the adoption of fuel cell technology in the European Union

Fuel cells are a highly efficient energy generation technology. Some types are already available commercially in stationary applications and they will soon be available for transport applications as well. Fuel cells are an important technology for the development of a low-carbon economy in Europe, which is needed to combat climate change and alleviate the Union's dependency on energy imports.

Public political support and policies suited to the needs of this emerging technology are required now in order to promote their rapid commercialisation and increase investor confidence in fuel cells. Not least, they need to be able to compete with conventional energy generation technologies and other types of renewable energy technologies like photovoltaic cells and wind turbines. Currently they are held back by the difficulties of including them in existing energy policies that have not taken fuel cells into account, and the lack of a fuel cell policy outside the domain of research and development. The full integration of fuel cells into existing policies and the development of a coherent fuel cell policy framework are needed to build investor confidence and create a fuel cell market.

Will the European Commission state:

- what it plans to do to systematically and coherently promote the rapid and large-scale adoption of fuel cells in the European Union in stationary as well as transport applications;

- whether it will consider the specific inclusion of eco-friendly energy generation technologies, like fuel cells, into existing frameworks for non-conventional energies, like those for renewable energy sources;

- whether it will specifically include fuel cell technologies in its planned proposal for the promotion of cogeneration.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(2 August 2002)

1. Under the 5th Community Research and Technological Development Framework Programme, the Commission has been actively encouraging the promotion of fuel cells through its support for research and demonstration projects. In the course of this programme, there has been a twofold increase to about EUR 35 million at year-end in the Commission's annual contribution to the projects. In total, close on EUR 140 million has been allocated to more than 70 research and demonstration projects between 1995 and 2001.

One example of the Commission's commitment to a coherent strategy for speeding up the introduction of fuel cells on the urban transport market is the Commission's participation in the large-scale CUTE-ECTOS project involving 10 cities in nine European countries. The aim of this project, featuring 30 fuel cell buses, is to validate technological performance on the basis of practical demonstrations. A further series of research projects (FUERO) should make it possible, on the one hand, to assess the future needs of vehicles equipped with fuel cells and, on the other, to promote the development of components geared specifically to the production of hydrogen on board vehicles. FUERO involves the majority of European automobile manufacturers.

In the area of stationary applications, the Commission has been supporting a project for the distributed generation of electricity involving 50 dwellings equipped with fuel cells (VIRTUAL POWER PLANT). This project, which was launched last year and is scheduled to run for four years, should provide solutions to the problems associated with managing cells in networks and demonstrating their reliability under actual operating conditions.

In addition to the technological projects, various thematic networks have been set up during the 5th Framework Programme, such as the HYNET network for the study of a series of research areas involving the hydrogen economy. The FCTESTNET network (55 members) is seeking to promote more closely harmonised test procedures for fuel cells and the exchange of information in this area.

Under the 6th Research and Demonstration Framework Programme, the Commission will be seeking to promote the construction of a European research area for fuel cells, with a view to creating a working environment and developing structures for tackling, in a more coherent and productive manner, the various issues and challenges associated with this new technology.

In practical terms, this approach could involve the creation of a technology platform bringing together under this initiative the main players from the scientific and industrial communities as well as the institutional decision-makers.

A special effort will be made to strengthen cooperation between public and private players and to ensure improved complementarity between the national programmes and the Research and Technological Development Framework Programme. Such cooperation is an essential prerequisite for encouraging joint activities, including the elaboration of harmonised regulatory standards associated with the introduction and use of new equipment and fuels. The new tools to be made available under the next framework programme, and in particular the integrated projects and networks of excellence, will provide a platform of choice for strengthening this cooperation.

2. The existing framework for promoting electricity from renewable energy sources also implicitly promotes the use of fuel cells as a means for decentralised electricity generation based on renewable energy (biogas and biofuels) or for storage of renewable energy (wind energy and photovoltaics). In the draft Directive for the promotion of the use of biofuels, the targets that should be met by the Member States will also include the option of such fuel cells(1).

In the draft proposal for cogeneration, which the Commission will submit shortly to Parliament and the Council, fuel cells have been addressed as one of the technologies that should be promoted.

(1) OJ C 103 E, 30.4.2002.