Danish Strategy for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells - HY-CO Home

4. International Perspective
The development of new hydrogen and fuel cell technologies requires
considerable resources and is the subject of much competition at a global level. It
is becoming increasingly important for Danish R&D institutions and enterprises to
become part of a network including leading public and private knowledge
environments abroad.
In an international context, it is particularly important to collaborate in areas
where Denmark has special competencies. At the same time, it is necessary to
import and develop relevant knowledge that Danish players have difficulty
acquiring on their own. Overall, networking will benefit both the Danish energy
sector and the Danish labour market.
Key international players
The United States, Japan and Canada in particular have invested large amounts in
recent years in R&D of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
In 2003, the US government launched the so-called FreedomCar initiative to find
a hydrogen technology solution to a reliable energy supply and a reduction of
greenhouse gas emission. The federal government intends to invest DKK 7 billion
over a 5-year period in hydrogen research, development and demonstration. Most
of the money will be spent on R&D and approximately 13% on demonstrations. 11
Internationally, the USA took the initiative in 2003 to form the Carbon
Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) followed by the International Partnership
for Hydrogen Economy (IPHE).
In Japan, public investments on R&D of fuel cells and hydrogen amount to
approximately DKK 1.6 billion per year. In 2003, demonstration accounted for
23% of the public funds. R&D in fuel cells commenced in the early 1980s and has
since been supplemented by the so-called WENET programme (International
Clean Energy Network Using Hydrogen Conversion) and demonstrations of
hydrogen cars, filling stations and stationary fuel cells.
For many years, Canada has invested in the development of fuel cell
technologies, in particular. Until recently, funds were mainly allocated to R&D,
but a national programme was recently introduced which, in addition to R&D,
also comprises the development of a hydrogen infrastructure and the marketing of
fuel cell and hydrogen technologies. Canada’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell
Committee was established in 2003. The Committee is a partnership between
public institutions, industry and research institutions and is responsible for
facilitating and coordinating the investments. The total public investment amounts
to approximately DKK 330 million per year.
Since 1995, Germany has primarily focused on R&D in fuel cells for stationary
use and transport. Several local governments, including Bavaria and North Rhine-
11 Robert F. Service. Toward a Hydrogen Economy. Science Vol. 305 13 August 2004.
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