FCH-JU

FUEL CELL AND HYDROGEN JOINT UNDERTAKING

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BART BIEBUYCK & PHILIPPE VANNSON - The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Undertaking (FCH JU) are working to facilitate the market introduction of FCH technologies in Europe and realise their potential in a carbon-clean energy system. They do this by implementing research and innovation (R&I) programmes in order to develop a portfolio of clean, efficient solutions that exploit the properties of hydrogen as an energy carrier and fuel cells as energy converters, to the point of market readiness.

FCH JU STORY

The story of FCH JU begins with a High Level Group on Hydrogen, when Romano Prodi and former European Commissioners Loyola de Palacio and Philippe Busquin laid the grounds for the creation of FCH JU. The High Level Group was an informal body with an advisory role, involving 19 hydrogen-power stakeholders and included representatives of the research community, industry, public authorities and end-users. Together, they outlined the steps they thought were needed to enable a sustainable hydrogen-oriented economy.

This organisation appears to be concentrating on funding electrolyzer development for clean hydrogen, the aim being to reduce the cost of production. 

At time of writing, they don't seem to have done the necessary research to know what mix of battery and hydrogen infrastructure is necessary. Though, we understand that a call has recently gone out, inviting proposals to carry out such research.

Of late, the European Union have decided to form a European Clean Hydrogen Alliance, inviting many countries outside the EU to enjoin, but specifically excluding the UK, despite the Trans European Networks for Energy.

Hydrogen power is the next stage of sustainable development for electrics, by extending range significantly for passenger vehicles and making the practical operation of long range heavy goods vehicles possible. But what about when a fuel cell breaks down? Roadside recovery will take you to the nearest garage for a conventional FCEV, but with the SmartNet™ Universal system, you can have a replacement fitted in a couple of minutes and be back on your way.

TRANS EUROPEAN NETWORKS FOR ENERGY (TEN-E)

PRIORITY CORRIDORS

There are nine priority corridors, covering different geographic regions in the field of electricity, gas and oil infrastructure. EU support for development in these corridors will connect regions currently isolated from European energy markets, strengthen existing cross-border interconnections, and help integrate renewable energy.

ELECTRICITY CORRIDORS

North Seas offshore grid (NSOG): 

Integrated offshore electricity grid development and related interconnectors in the North Sea, Irish Sea, English Channel, Baltic Sea and neighbouring waters to transport electricity from renewable offshore energy sources to centres of consumption and storage and to increase cross-border electricity exchange.

North-south electricity interconnections in western Europe (NSI West Electricity):

Interconnections between EU countries in this region and with the Mediterranean area including the Iberian peninsula, in particular to integrate electricity from renewable energy sources and reinforce internal grid infrastructures to promote market integration in the region.

North-south electricity interconnections in central eastern and south eastern Europe (NSI East Electricity):

Interconnections and internal lines in north-south and east-west directions to complete the EU internal energy market and integrate renewable energy sources.

Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan in electricity (BEMIP Electricity):

Interconnections between Member States in the Baltic region and the strengthening of internal grid infrastructure, to end the energy isolation of the Baltic States and to foster market integration; this includes working towards the integration of renewable energy in the region.

PRIORITY THEMATIC AREAS

The three priority thematic areas, which relate to the entire EU, include smart grids deployment, electricity highways, and a cross-border carbon dioxide network.

Smart grids deployment: increase deployment of smart grids to help integrate renewable energy and allow consumers to better regulate their energy consumption

Electricity highways: construction of electricity highways – large grids that allow electricity to be transported over long distances across Europe (e.g. from wind farms in the North and Baltic Seas to storage facilities in Scandinavia and the Alps)

Cross-border carbon dioxide network: development of transport infrastructure for captured CO2 through dedicated thematic groups.

A proposed Hydrogen Refuelling Station by Air Liquide, where hydrogen is made from water on site, compressed and stored in cylinders before being dispensed to FECV customers. These HRS's can only service hydrogen powered vehicles - and there is no load levelling ability. For that you'd need our Universal Smart Batteries.

CONTACTS

FUEL CELLS AND HYDROGEN JOINT UNDERTAKING
Avenue de la Toison d'Or 56-60, B-1060 Brussels

Tel.: +32 2 221 81 48

Fax: +32 2 221 81 26
e-mail: fch-ju@fch.europa.eu

Typically, hydrogen is delivered to a fuelling location in the same way as it is distributed to industry: in pressurised tanks on lorries. However, at suitable sites hydrogen can be produced on-site by electrolysis, in the best case with the aid of renewable electricity obtained via direct coupling (wind/solar), or through grid-balancing services.

HYDROGEN FUEL CELL CONVERSION CHAIN NEGATIVES

Going against hydrogen, is the losses in efficiency during the conversion process, where water is electrolyzed, the gas is then compressed and converted via a fuel cell to electricity. The conversion chain only yields around 25% as opposed to battery powered electrics, where the conversion chain is around 70%. These figures are constantly changing, mainly due to the improvement in electrolysis technology. But PEM fuel cells are only around 50% efficient, in converting hydrogen to electricity. Hence, the only real advantage is long term sustainability, that battery technology alone may not be able to provide.

We should therefore, use all the means at our disposal to improve EVs, by way of range extending technology. This includes solar assistance, something that is hardly ever considered.

LINKS & REFERENCE

https://ec.europa.eu/energy/topics/infrastructure/trans-european-networks-energy_en

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