There is widespread consensus that overall EU policy on sustainable development should include an ambitious strategy on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells. A future sustainable energy system based on hydrogen, ideally from renewable energy sources, and fuel cells would provide an effective response to the pressing challenges of increased energy demand (especially in the transport sector), security of energy supply, greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. With a 20 to 30 year perspective, the task is complex and has potentially very great socio-economic and environmental consequences for the developed world. A wide range of European policies are concerned, including research, energy, transport, environment and enterprise.
The platform should assist in the efficient co-ordination of European, national, regional and local research, development and deployment programmes and initiatives and ensure a balanced and active participation of the major stakeholders (i.e. industry, scientific community, public authorities, users, civil society). It should help to develop awareness of fuel cell and hydrogen market opportunities and energy scenarios and foster future co-operation, both within the EU and at global scale.
The technology platform will be instrumental in structuring socio-economic and technical research on hydrogen and fuel cells at European level, as well as for stimulating increased public and private investment in R&D. The platform will also help to identify and to promote deployment opportunities both for energy infrastructure and services. The platform will be built up from ongoing and new projects, clusters and networks in the Commission’s Framework Programmes and in Member States, and will also include a number of specific steering panels and initiative groups as may be necessary to optimise its functioning and realise the platform’s overall goals. These activities will be complemented by new initiatives for public-private partnerships and linked to industry projects, when appropriate.
The results of activities, including research and demonstration projects, undertaken under the auspices of the platform will be widely disseminated and communicated to the appropriate policy making bodies. These bodies themselves will be represented in the platform governance structure and play a crucial role in target setting and assessment. Regular annual or bi-annual meetings of platform participants will ensure shared ownership and a common vision.
The technology platform, set up in 2004, and all its activities contributes to an integrated strategy to accelerate the realisation of a sustainable hydrogen economy in Europe, a concept endorsed by the European Commission on 10 September 2003.