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1 A. Bahbout, G.P. Tartaglia (Joint Research Centre, IHCP, Ispra, Italy) U. Bünger (L-B-Systemtechnik, D Ottobrunn, Germany) 1 21 st World Gas Conference, Nice, June 6-9, 2000 This paper was originally intended to be prepared by the Joint Research Centre in ISPRA, which is summarized in chapter 1. Later, it was decided that LBST will add to the paper, summarized in chapter 2 to Past Activities and Current Work Programme Growing concern over urban air pollution, global climatic change allegedly caused by rising levels of greenhouse gases and future energy security requirements demand a solution: a clean and sustainable energy supply. Hydrogen is seen as a promising clean fuel when integrated into a wide and long-term vision in which it provides, in parallel with electricity, a secondary energy carrier, ultimately derived from renewable energy sources. Europe has been a pioneer in promoting the wider use of hydrogen. Already in 1991, various demonstration projects were started with funds under the Euro-Quebec Hydro-Hydrogen Pilot Project (EQHHPP) in The European Commission, the European Industry, the Government of Quebec and the Canadian Industry made resources available for use of hydrogen, from surplus in Canada, to be applied in various end-use technologies. Under this project, about thirty European industry/research centres/universities have been involved, working on a comprehensive set of hydrogen applications/uses, Public transportation means (city buses, boats) equipped with internal combustion engines (ICE) or fuel cells and using either liquid or compressed hydrogen went into demonstration service. Cogeneration (CHP) projects based on the use of phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC) were realised. In joint co-operation, aviation combustor test activities have been carried out by Daimler Benz Aerospace, Airbus Industries and Pratt & Whitney. Investigation of hydrogen storage in zeolites, carbon and nanotubes started. Tests on compressed hydrogen gas storage tanks were also conducted. Most of the projects have been terminated but there are still a few ones on going. They will end by end 99 and beginning of year As intended, the initial momentum set by the EQHHPP Project has now been replaced by many private initiatives, especially in Germany. Only one specific project funded by the European Commission, the European Integrated Hydrogen Project (EIHP) remains. In the EIHP project, several companies which designed and constructed prototypes and demonstration vehicles using hydrogen have joined forces with the aim of improving the co-ordination of licensing and approval procedures needed for putting on the road hydrogen powered vehicles. The 5 th Framework Programme eventually includes hydrogen activities, even if no specific reference is made to hydrogen, following the policy of the Commission to orientate and fund research according to broad objectives. Hydrogen appears integrated in the wider context of the main thematic lines of the work programme. In the programme Energy, environment and sustainable development, the activities are concerned with the generation of electricity and or heat with reduced CO 2 emissions from biomass or other fuels. Moreover, development, demonstration, integration of new and renewable energy sources into energy systems is foreseen. Specifically for the fuel cells: independent evaluation of 1 Internet: buenger@lbst.de

2 their performance against standardised measurement procedures, study of materials involved, possibilities for improvement. In the programme Competitive and sustainable growth, the activities are concerned with storage and use. In particular, R&D work on the optimisation of production and pre-treatment of nanotubes or other caged molecules. Moreover, as a broader issue for transportation, the focus is on the research, technological development and demonstration activities which should lead to validated advanced concepts capable of meeting all public and user demand for sustainable mobility and improved safety while reducing the environmental impact. Specifically, items like guidelines, safety standards, licensing procedures will be handled. In summary, hydrogen is looked upon as one of the clean fuel of the future, ultimately derived from renewable energy sources and permitting them to be brought to the market place. Opportunities derive from environmental concerns (increasing), economic considerations (production costs from renewable energies decreasing), technological ones (no major technological issues to solve). The establishment of a hydrogen economy should have as a precursor, a unique European sefety philosophy in place. Through this broad set of objectives, it is the ambition of the Commission to continue to encourage initiatives from industry towards clean sustainable development. Hydrogen technologies are among the contending technologies for that objective. Gas and energy companies should play a key role in this endeavour. 2. Past and Current Hydrogen Related Projects In 1999 LBST carried out an investigation to summarize all European hydrogen projects [Wurster, 00]. The traditionally industrialized countries in Europe have a century-long history in hydrogen production and utilization in the industrial sector, especially in the chemical industry. A broad experience in chemical hydrogen production and use is available mainly in Finland (7.5%), France (10%), Germany (37%), Great Britain (7.8%), Italy (6.6%) and The Netherlands (14%) [%figures indicate share of total EU-hydrogen production in chemical industry]. Primarily in France, but also in Germany, a profound experience in handling liquid hydrogen has been accumulated in the aerospace sector during the last 40 years (Ariane space program). Besides fundamental research activities in materials science, in hydrogen production, storage, handling and stationary and mobile applications also a few hydrogen demonstration projects have been conceived and conducted in the most recent years in some EU-countries. An evaluation of the hydrogen research, development and demonstration activities of the last approximately 10 years reveals about 336 individual activities, ranging from small to integrated network projects (Tab. 1). More than one third of these projects (135) were or are performed in an intra-european context and mainly comprise activities co-funded by programs of the European Commisiion, each project involving at least 2 EU-member states, mostly even more partners from EUcountries. Universities and governmental research organizations usually perform most of their work with public funds. Industrial and commercial enterprises execute most of their activities in cost shared actions where governmental funding covers half of the expenses at maximum. According to the project data collected in total about approximately 381 Mio ECU have been spent on hydrogen technology in the EU, out of which 92 Mio. ECU were funded by the EU, which would result in an average funding rate of 24%. 2

3 Table 1 List of EU hydrogen projects in the last 10 years (numbers indicate project participation) Country Number of projects With EU funding Without EU-funding Austria 5 10 Belgium 14 0 Switzerland 7 8 Germany 1 58 Denmark Spain 19 6 Finland 2 12 France 39 7 Great Britain Greece 7 1 Iceland 0 1 Ireland 6 0 Italy Liechtenstein 0 0 Luxemburg 1 0 Netherlands 48 6 Norway 6 15 Portugal 9 0 Sweden Total This number refers to EU-projects with German participation, the total number of German hydrogen projects is much higher with about 220 individual activities during the last 10 years [Wurster, 99] 2 As double counts are possible, the project number is not identical with the individual project participation An overview of the investigation into type, structure, contents, goal and budgetary volume of these activities is given in this publication (Tab. 2). Germany is not covered by this survey as it has been investigated thoroughly in a previous report in 1999 [Wurster, 99] [Bünger, 00], which is also accessible in the internet at Table 2 Structure and technology of EU-funded projects Type Projects Category Projects R&D 102 DMFC 12 Demo 27 FC 48 Pilot 6 Application 24 Study 19 Systems analysis 12 Others 3 Production 36 Storage 11 Transport 2 Safety 5 Projects may be double-counted, if they belong to more than one type/category 3

4 Based on the information about European hydrogen research, development and demonstration projects and activities already known to LBST a questionnaire was developed and sent to all important organizations (institues, organizations and industry), active in the field of hydrogen in EU-Europe. Additionally available reports, funding catalogues and other communications on governmental funding were analyzed and evaluated. Furthermore, information available in the internet (e.g. the European Commission s CORDIS homepage) was cross-checked with the information obtained from the questionnaires, reports, catalogues and LBST in-house data files. All information was implemented into a customized electronic database structured according to the existing projects. With this tool a flexible evaluation of the data stored according to the pre-defined entry fields and search criteria is possible. The data stored in the data base served as basis for the evaluation of a survey on European hydrogen projects delivered to the client. 3. Euro-Québec Hydro-Hydrogen Pilot Project (EQHHPP) In 1988, the European Commission and the government of Québec came to an agreement to investigate jointly the perspectives of renewably produced hydrogen as clean fuel. Together with European and Canadian industrial companies and research organizations the various steps of the project should be carried out. In a detailed feasibility study between 1989 and 1991 (EQHHPP Phase II) it was investigated whether 140 MW of surplus electricity produced in existing hydropower plants (which could not be fed into the existing electric grid) could be converted into hydrogen, transported to Europe and applied there in various end-use technologies. By 1991 the general feasibility could be proven with a 15% cost accuracy. In 1992, an additional investigatory phase on various scientific and technological questions as well as on approval issues concerning the delivery of liquid hydrogen to the port of Hamburg was carried out. In parallel, a financial engineering phase took part during 1991 and During this phase it turned out that the required funding of approximately 1 billion U.S.$ could not be raised in a joint effort by the participating industry, national governments and the European Commission. Table 3 EQHHPP Budget overview [MECU] (LBST own summary) EQHHPP Phases Time Frame Total Budget European Share Quebec Share II Feasibility Study detailed system definition II Supplementary R&D Task Program (EC) 0.6 (EI) III.0-1 Pre-Approval Activities Europe (EC) 0.4 (EI) III.0-2 Hydrogen Demonstration Program (EC) 6.7 (EI) III.0-3 Hydrogen Demonstration Program (Europe) (EC) 7.8 (EI) III.0-4 Hydrogen Demonstration Program (Europe) ??? (QG) 2.5 (QI) All Phases > 44.8 > 35.2 > 8.6 EC = European Commission, EI = European Industry, QG = Quebec Government, QI = Quebec Industry Phase III.0-4: Exact budgets finally allocated are not known to LBST [it is assumed that the total EQHHPP budget did not officially exceed 50 MECU] 0 4

5 Therefore, on recommendation by the European Parliament, the focus was shifted to the development, realization, testing and demonstration of key hydrogen application and infrastructure technologies, such as buses, aircraft jet engine, transport containers and co-generation units. The demonstration phases III.0-2 ( ), III.0-3 ( ) and III.0-4 ( ) have generated plentiful experience and technological improvements in the field of hydrogen energy. In the 10 year project duration a total budget of approximately 50 MECU has been allocated to hydrogen technology (Tab. 3), out of which approximately 18.7 MECU or a minimum of 37% were funded by the EU. 4. European Integrated Hydrogen Project (EIHP) The main focus of the proposed project is to come to a harmonized approach for the licensing and approval of hydrogen related vehicles, infrastructural equipment and components (e.g. from the EQHHPP), and other hydrogen vehicles and infrastructure equipment presently existing or being planned for the very next years). In order to achieve this goal, appropriate risk analysis instruments (e.g. fault tree analysis FTA, failure mode and effects analysis instruments FMEA) for existing hydrogen vehicles and infrastructure equipment shall be worked out creating a more profound and comparable basis for discusion with the licensing authorities. The following activities have already been performed in the project: 1. Survey od existing European rules and regulations for licensing and evaluation of these rules and regulations as a basis for discussion [in Task 1 and Task 2] 2. Identification of rules and regulations already eligible for harmonization [in Task 3] 3. Identification of deficits in licensing practices [in Task 4 and Task 5] 4. Research and safety studies needed as a preparation for standardization activities [in Task 4, 5, 6 and 7] (Safety conceots and risk analysis for LH 2 and LNG vehicle/storage systems; Investigation of licensability of vehicle refueling systems: Safety studies comprising detailed modeling of dispersion, combustion and explosion phenomena in free, semi-confined and confined spaces; Collecting operation experience from past and ongoing projects; R&D leading to minimum certification infrastructure and standard licensing processes for compressed gas vehicles, especially H 2 ; Experimental investigation of two-phase flow in an existing safety valve for cryogenic tanks; Investigation on high strength steel tanks and refuelling systems; 5. Proposal for pre-normative rules as well as, where indicated, proposal for a vehicle operation and infrastructure test programme in view of the identified deficits and proposed improvements together with authorities [in Task 10] EIHP is the first internationally integrated activity for the harmonization of rules, regulations and safety requirements jointly involving technology companies, vehicle operators and licensing authorities in the field of hydrogen technologies. It provides the basis for global harmonization initiatives in the field of hydrogen technologies, and furthermore detailed activities in harmonizing standards and codes of practice for H 2 refueling infrastructure. At the same time it serves as programme for dissemination and formation of acceptability in Europe, making use of already developed European prototype technology and initially available approval experience; available from only very few operators, authorities and technology companies at present. This technical and administrative knowledge shall be shared among the interested member states of the EU. Valuable experience from the approval of CNG and LNG technology will also be considered in EIHP. In Phase I a total budget of 2.5 MECU was consumed, out of which 1.3 MECU or 50% were funded by the EU. 5

6 The deficit of Phase I was that a suitable platform for the pan-european harmonization of infrastructure components could not be identified; a platform has still to be defined. Thus, it was decided to continue with the EIHP work into Phase II with the following continued or newly defined tasks: monitoring/development of the draft proposal documents, refueling procedures (LH 2 and CGH 2 ), determination of optimum CGH 2 storage pressure, worst case safety scenarios and boil-off management, periodic inspection procedures for vehicles and infrastructure components, validation of regulations for vehicles and related components, validation of standards and codes of practice for refueling stations, validation of for subsystems and efforts for global harmonisation between US/EU activities on standards, regulations and approval procedures. The structure of EIHP is depicted in fig. 1, the list of the Phase I partners in tab. 4. Phase II of EIHP is currently in the application pipeline for funding. The list of partners has about doubled) mainly partners from automotive, petroleum and infrastructure industry) and 80% of Phase I partners continue their work into Phase II. Figure 1 Structure of EIHP Phase II Standardization / Harmonization - Monitoring of draft - Definition of refueling procedure - Definition of procedure for periodic inspection - Public garages & tunnels SUPPORTIVE MEASURES Hardware development - Test facilities - Coupling + refueling procedures - Pressure control valves safety valves - Boil-off management systems Hardware validation - Homologation of vehicles + components Safety - Experiments + calculation - Comparative risk evaluation Systems Studies - Optimum CGH 2 pressure - Comparison of fuel supply options As existing standards such as ASTM, DIN, CEN and ISO do not have legal status in many countries the goal of EIHP is to achieve an ECE platform to establish a Europe wide legally binding set of standards, rules or regulations. Furthermore, by using the ECE platform it is the intention to later reach the global harmonization of the European efforts, Europe and its countries being members. It is however not yet clear which will be the body for a Europe wide or even global certification of stationary equipment. 6

7 Table 4 Partner list of companies and institutions for EIHP Phase I Company/Institution Air Liquide SA Bayerische Motoren Werke AG EC-Joint Research Centre Ispra Hambugische Electricitäts-Werke (HEW) Hydrogen Systems NV Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aerospacial L-B-Systemtechnik GmbH (co-ordinator) Messer Griesheim GmbH Renault AB Volvo Country France Germany Italy Germany Belgium Spain Germany Germany France Sweden 5. Conclusions Looking at some of the national and international developments in hydrogen technology it becomes clear which important contributions the hydrogen technology oriented activities of the EU have helped to prepare and trigger: Transport Energy Strategy (TES): This initiative of 7 major German automobile and mineral oil companies is aimed at an industrial consensus on one or two gasoline alternative fuels, which are to be presented to the German Ministry of Transport. An intermediate trend is that hydrogen may become the fuel of choice. BMW: The Bayerischen Motorenwerke have already very early exposed themselves to the vehicle and component development of hydrogen as a vehicle fuel, focussing on a strategy from CNG to LNG and LH 2 Opel and GM: Opel has recently announced they have chosen hydrogen as the primary long term fuel for their fuel cell vehicles to be commercialized starting in 2004 CFCP: The California Fuel Cell Partnership with partners from industry and politics has announced they are preparing the installation of hydrogen fuel stations aas well as fuel cell buses and 30 passenger cars, mainly operated with hydrogen NEDO: The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of Japan has announced they are going to build hydrogen pilot refueling stations 18 months ahead of the original schedule to reduce the first-to-market-time Norway: A study group of Norwegian industry and institutes has carried out a comprehensive study for the Research Ministry on further R&D areas which should be intensified in a national strategy to be prepared for an international hydrogen energy system [SINTEF, 00] German Greens: The German ecologist party Greens has announced last week a shift from an anti-car lobbying to fostering greener cars, focussing on renewable hydrogen as a clean fuel Linde: The largest European Technical Gas Company has announced recently they will strategically invest in hydrogen energy technology. Linde has also been a partner in many EU-funded projects 7

8 Many of these activities have profited from the early engagement of the EU, as many of the companies now envolved in forward looking hydrogen activities had already been partners in earlier projects. Thus it may be concluded that the early funding of hydrogen technologies, although for long time being criticised intensively by hydrogen sceptics, has paid off. It puts the European industry into a competitive role occupying a pole position in the race for being first to market. In most of the abovementioned activities L-B-Systemtechnik has participated or even managed them, being driven by the visionary Ludwig-Bölkow. After retiring as former Chairman of Messerschmidt Bölkow Blohm (today DaimlerChrysler Aerospace) and as the major German air and space pioneer after World War II, Ludwig-Bölkow has devoted his time and money to the advancement of renewable energies, hydrogen being the ultimate and universal energy carrier to transport and store globally available renewable energies. Literature [Bünger, 00] Bünger, U.: Hydrogen German H 2 -projets motivation and key success factors. Keynotespeech, Workshop Hydrogensamfunnet en nasjonal mulighetsstudie in preparation of a national R&D strategy for hydrogen as energy carrier at the Norwegian Ministry of Research, Oslo 14./15. January [SINTEF, 00] Hydrogensamfunnet en nasjonal mulighetsstudie. A project of the Norwegian R&D Ministry in the NYTEK-Programme, published by SINTEF Energieforskning, May [Wurster, 99] Wurster, R.; Blandow, V.; Pschorr-Schoberer, E.: German hydrogen projects since Survey of L-B-Systemtechnik for the Engineering Advancement Association of Japan, January [Wurster, 00] Wurster, R.; Pschorr-Schoberer, E.; Blandow, V.: European hydrogen projects since Survey of L-B-Systemtechnik for the Engineering Advancement Association of Japan, January