Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking launches its 5th call for proposals worth €150 million to support research and demonstration activities in innovative energy technologies
The FCH JU public private partnership with a total budget amounting to nearly €1bn to be invested by 2013, publishes its fifth annual call for proposals today. With € 77, 5 million, to be matched by in-kind contributions from industry, research organisations and possibly national funds, the FCH JU confirms its dedication to accelerate the market entry of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies. Recognised as able to contribute to the decarbonisation of transport and energy systems, to a more efficient use of energy and renewables sources, as well as to increased energy security, these technologies have the potential to sustain EU competitiveness and job creation in the face of fierce competition from US, Japan Korea and China, in these technologies.
Welcoming the launch of this fifth call, the Chairman of the Governing Board and of the Industry Grouping of the Joint Undertaking, Pierre-Etienne Franc, reiterates:
“European industries and SMEs have emerged as highly credible players in developing and demonstrating fuel cells and hydrogen technologies. Applications such as cars, busses, light duty and material handling vehicles, are technology-ready. To go the extra mile and start deployment of innovative technologies competing with mature ones, can not be purely driven by market forces: pooling public resources on a long term basis is crucial to generating leverage for private investment, the main drive of innovation. Favorable policy orientations and regulations are also vital assets”.
Bert De Colvenaer, Executive Director of the FCH Joint Undertaking, adds: ” the 2012 call will cover real-time demonstration activities to prepare for fuel cell systems market entry with improved technology maturity and cost reduction targets. It will also cover R&D for enhancing systems to meet operational and cost competitiveness requirements or to reduce the time to demonstration and deployment. With a light organisation, we are currently running 70 projects in parallel and will soon reach 100 projects from the 4 previous calls for proposals. To support deployment strategies, the FCH JU is working on studies related to European fuel cells and hydrogen ‘Roll Out’ and commercialisation plans for vehicles, stationary applications, busses and material handling vehicles”.
