Hydrogen and its competitors, 2004

Risø Energy Report 3Hydrogen in the Danish energy system 174Hydrogen in the Danish energy systemBIRTE HOLST JØRGENSEN, RISØ NATIONAL LABORATORY; IB CHORKENDORFF, TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF DENMARKIntroductionHydrogen used as an energy carrier may not solve all ourenergy problems related to security of supply, climatechange and environmental degradation, but hydrogenenergy in combination with fuel cells may fit well into afuture energy system based on renewables. If Denmarkwith a small open economy wants to compete andbecome a key knowledge contributor to this technologicalfield, there is high demand for correlation ofknowledge creation and diffusion between knowledgeproducers and users. Thus the efforts must include basicresearch, access to highly qualified human resources,knowledge and technology transfer to the market, alignmentof the relations between universities and users ofknowledge and technology in the society at large, andbetter focus and prioritisation of research, technologyand innovation [8,10,11].This chapter focuses on Danish R&D in hydrogen andfuel cells, in the context of European and global R&D.The first section is an introduction to the Danish energyresearch funding system and Denmark's involvement ininternational energy research. This is followed by anaccount of Denmark's national and international R&D inthe period 1998-2003, including EU-funded projects.Finally, an assessment is given of the competitiveness ofDanish fuel cell and hydrogen research, and prospectsfor a national research strategy for hydrogen and fuelcells, including the major challenges facing Danishuniversities and industry are discussed.We conclude that “strategic intelligence” – knowledgecreation and diffusion along the whole value chain – inDanish hydrogen R&D is closely related to the involvementof stakeholders from government, the energysector, research and industry. A dialogue is needed to setgoals and decide on actions, so that once a national R&Dand demonstration programme is launched, all the keystakeholders are fully committed.Danish R&D in hydrogen and fuel celltechnologiesDanish researchers have over the years developedoutstanding competences in hydrogen R&D at national,Nordic and European levels. Their scope of work coversthe entire value chain of the hydrogen economy,including the production, storage, distribution, conversionand end-use of hydrogen in both transport andstationary applications.In the last five years, Danish energy research onhydrogen and fuel cells has been supported by theNational Energy Research Programme (EFP), the PublicService Obligation Funds for R&D relating to environmentand electricity (PSO), the Research Councils andthe short-lived Hydrogen Programme (1999-2001). Astrict division between hydrogen and fuel cell R&D isdifficult to make. The National Energy Research Programmehas historically supported R&D projects onSOFCs, but the Hydrogen Programme has supportedboth hydrogen and fuel cell R&D.A total of 34 projects with a total budget of €22.1 millionwere approved in the period 1998-2002. Some of theseare now complete, while others are still running.The Hydrogen Programme was launched in 1999 withtotal government funding of around €10 million overfour years, but with the new government in office inTable 1: Overview of Danish hydrogen and fuel cell R&D projects, 1998-2002. Including the Centre of Excellence “Towards a Hydrogen BasedSociety” covering catalysis, storage, conversion and demonstrations.Hydrogen Programme EFP; PSO; Research Councils TotalNo. of projects Million € No. of projects Million € No. of projects Million €Production 1 0.15 1 0.15Catalysis & Storage 2 0.6 31 5.62 5 6.22Distribution 1 0.27 1 0.27Conversion: combustion 1 0.23 1 0.24 2 0.47Conversion: fuel cells (SOFCs) 12 10.95 12 10.95Conversion: fuel cells (PEMFCs) 7 3.1 7 3.1Other 3 0.6 3 0.42 6 1.02Total 14 4.8 20 17.33 34 22.13