More investment for green transport needed
Transport requires increasing investment, particularly in green technology, under the research programme of the EU, according to Bert de Colvenaer, executive director at Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking.
De Colvenaer added that funding for fuel cells and other renewable energy transport resources will help the EU’s meet its goal of ‘Smart, green and integrated transport’ under Horizon 2020.
He said: “I think during the last three to four years, more people have become aware that it’s good to have the transport applications using fuel cells and hydrogen’s. There is though bigger potential – the picture becomes bigger when hydrogen is considered as a storage medium for energy from intermittent, renewable energies sources such as wind and solar.
“This electricity can be stored in the form of large volumes of hydrogen by electrolysis and then re-entered in the system when needed by fuel cell technology.
“This something we plan to focus more on under Horizon 2020. Transport still needs strong support, but we have to widen the picture to see the full benefit of hydrogen and fuel cell technology in the society,” de Colvenaer added.
Transport will receive nearly €8bn of funding under the next research framework programme.
