WRITTEN QUESTION P-1786/02 by Ari Vatanen (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Promoting the adoption of fuel cell technology in the European Union.
Date: 2002-06-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, EU research policy, common transport policy, energy policy, fuel cell, research project, technological change

12.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/161

(2002/C 309 E/188)

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:

(cid:1) 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;

(cid:1) 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;

(cid:1) 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.

C 309 E/162

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

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.

(2002/C 309 E/189)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1788/02

by Josu Ortuondo Larrea (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(24 June 2002)

Subject: Autonomous governments’ participation in the Spanish Presidency

Article 2 of the Spanish Constitution recognises and guarantees the right to autonomy of historical
nationalities such as Catalonia, Galicia and the Basque Country and also extends the same right to the
remaining regions, which have likewise formed autonomous communities. This system has been enshrined
in the Statute of Autonomy. Moreover, the European Treaties entrust the Council with the task of
coordinating the general economic policies of the Member States, and grant it decision-making power.

The Spanish Presidency of the European Union comes to an end in June and this will be the last
opportunity to put questions to the current President-in-Office of the EU Council of Ministers.

Does the Spanish Presidency consider that preventing the governments of the Spanish autonomous
communities from participating in all Presidency-related acts has helped it better to perform its tasks? Does
the Spanish Presidency believe that there is no contradiction between the Treaty provisions establishing
citizenship of the Union and a common policy on external relations, and the Spanish Government’s
insistence, as the sole justification for preventing the governments of autonomous communities from
participating in Councils dealing with matters which fall exclusively within their sphere of competence,
that these matters constitute ‘international relations’?