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

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1. Introduction Across the globe, many countries have great expectations for hydrogen and fuel cell technology as an important contributor to a future sustainable energy economy. Such an economy would result in a gradual reduction in the dependency on fossil fuels, increased use of renewable sources of energy and a reduction of the emission of greenhouse gases. To make this vision become true, it is crucial to develop technologies that allow the use of hydrogen as energy carrier on a par with electricity. Moreover, hydrogen presents the advantage that it can be stored in large quantities and can be used as fuel for transportation. The two energy carriers would thus supplement each other as a basis for an environmentally friendly energy supply with the potential to replace fossil fuels in the future. Experts disagree about when oil production is likely to peak. The Association for the Study of Peak Oil (ASPO) says 2010, and the International Energy Agency (IEA) thinks it will happen in 2030. However, all parties agree that it is necessary to invest already now in R&D of alternative sources of energy. Countries like the USA and Japan have already invested considerable amounts in R&D of hydrogen and fuel cells for a number of years. To turn hydrogen into an unavoidable energy carrier is not an easy task. However, as oil prices rise and become unpredictable and new technological progress is made, the development will gradually start favouring the use of hydrogen. Fuel cells is a key technology in the development of a hydrogen economy and an area where Danish technology is already at the forefront. The challenge is to ensure a socio-economic development in which Danish companies cement and expand their competencies and competitive position in the international hydrogen technology market. Most hydrogen technologies are still too expensive and ineffective to play a major role in the energy system. At an international level, everyone agrees that the challenges remain: • to develop more effective and cheaper ways of producing hydrogen; • to develop better storage systems for hydrogen in the transport sector; • to develop better and cheaper fuel cells; • to develop international standards and safety regulations for hydrogen technologies; and • to create a real infrastructure for the distribution of hydrogen for use in stationary plants and in the transport sector. So far, there has been limited Danish R&D in hydrogen technologies apart from fuel cells. In 1997, a hydrogen R&D programme was set up as a result of a DKK 20 million donation in support of a number of development-focused projects. This donation had been exhausted by the end of 2000. A continuation of the programme in 2001–2004 through an additional donation of about DKK 40 million was planned, but the funds were never approved. In 2001, approximately 7
DKK 23 million was allocated by way of a major multi-disciplinary hydrogen project called “Towards a hydrogen society 1 ” involving both basic research environments and the industrial sector. In addition, a number of small grants have been allocated over the years to various hydrogen-related projects. A Danish strategy for the R&D in a technological field as vast as hydrogen and fuel cell technology affects a number of R&D areas as well as many research institutions and commercial entities. In addition, it covers all development stages from basic research via applied research to development and demonstration. Strategies were developed in 2003 and 2004 for various subareas that are part and parcel of a hydrogen technology strategy. This applies to the strategy for the development of fuel cell technology 2 formulated in 2003 and the strategy for R&D of liquid biofuel production of 3 formulated in 2005. The financial requirements in the field of fuel cells are incorporated into this strategy. The same does not apply to biofuels. 1 In Danish: På vej mod et hydrogensamfund 2 A general strategy for the development of fuel cell technology in Denmark, the Danish Energy Authority, Elkraft System and Eltra, July 2003 (in Danish: Overordnet strategi for udvikling af brændselscelleteknologi i Danmark) 3 An R&D strategy for the production of liquid biofuels, the Danish Energy Authority, June 2005 (in Danish: Strategi for forskning og udvikling vedrørende fremstilling af flydende biobrændstoffer) 8
Page 2 and 3: Preface In January 2004, the Danish
Page 4 and 5: Abbreviations AKF DTU EFP R&D GW H
Page 6 and 7: The present report was produced by
Page 10 and 11: 2. Goals and Means The overall and
Page 12 and 13: other uses. Wind power based electr
Page 14 and 15: distribution is concerned, the exis
Page 16 and 17: Table 2. Visions for the developmen
Page 18 and 19: 4. International Perspective The de
Page 20 and 21: International co-operation forums w
Page 22 and 23: 5. Danish Focus on Hydrogen Technol
Page 24 and 25: 6. Implementation Effective technol
Page 26 and 27: Organisational framework The strate
Page 28 and 29: • to establish and maintain the g
Page 30 and 31: • the level of activity described
Page 32 and 33: Ole Bilde, Consultant, Elkraft Syst

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