Cost is biggest drawback for tomorrow’s energy

Date: 27/03/03

By Karen Carstens

PHILIPPE Busquin has big plans for fuel cells. Not only will they power cars and buses across Europe one day, they will provide households with clean sources of energy via devices resembling tiny refrigerators.

"Using fuel cells for energy production will be more important in Europe than in North America," he says, citing the EU's growing dependency on energy sources from outside the Union's borders.

External energy supplies are projected to soar from some 50% at present to more than 70% over the next 30 years.

Busquin's portable "fridges" would form just one element of a vast "technology platform" that he hopes will help shift member states - and the rest of the world - towards more self-reliant, hydrogen-based economies.

"It's not just a scientific strategy, it's a global strategy," he said. "This is not limited to one part of the world. Having hydrogen technology is of universal geopolitical importance."

The biggest problem, however, can be summed up in one word - "cost".

To find the most efficient ways to bring fuel cells to market Busquin earlier this month signed an agreement with US Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham aimed at fostering enhanced EU-US cooperation on fuel cell research (see page 17).

Busquin appears sceptical about at least one recently stated US goal - having 10% of cars running on hydrogen-powered fuel cells by 2015. "I don't know if this will be possible," he admits.

Instead, Busquin predicts "hybrid" cars, which combine electric motors with small petroleum engines, will be hitting showrooms first (see article below).

So is the US more advanced in fuel-cell-related research than the EU?

"I think we are at a very similar level."

Busquin points out that hydrogen and fuel cell research has been upgraded to a "priority" area in the €17.5 billion Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), the EU's main instrument for the funding of research in Europe, that runs over four years until 2006.

The Fifth Framework Programme (FP5 1999-2002) devoted €120 million to hydrogen and fuel cell research, and Busquin said more funds are yet to come via FP6. Still, he readily accepts that funding has been fragmented in the past. "We need a more consistent approach at European level, and at the world level."

The Commission has estimated total European public funding for fuel cell research at some €50 million to €60m annually, around one-third of US funding and one-quarter of Japan's.

To rev up Europe's fuel cell research motor, Busquin, along with Commission President Romano Prodi and Transport and Energy Commissioner Loyola de Palacio, last October launched a high-level group on hydrogen and fuel cells.

De Palacio hopes the group will help the EU in reaching a policy objective of replacing 20% of automotive fuel with alternatives by 2020.

Comprised of representatives from automotive and energy companies, public utilities, research institutes, transport companies and policymakers, the group has been tasked by the Commission with drafting a blueprint for the future of hydrogen and fuel cell technology in Europe.

Busquin says it will be unveiled next month.

Then, on 16 June, Busquin is scheduled to meet Prodi, de Palacio and ministers from EU member states for a hydrogen and fuel cell policy "pow-wow".

Busquin has enjoyed brief rides in both hydrogen cars and buses.

"It's rather eerie at first because it's so quiet," he said in reference to the vehicles that only emit water vapour.

But the car could only hit a very non-European top speed of 120 kilometres per hour. "The autonomy of this car is limited. It's not for tomorrow - the commercial aspects won't be possible for at least another ten years.

"We are in an experimental developmental stage and all you have is a prototype. It's easier to develop the hydrogen buses, because the proportion of hydrogen fuel cells in a car is higher than in a bus."

Report on Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin's plans to develop fuel cells as an alternative power source for cars and buses.