The government needs to invest in developing a hydrogen infrastructure or risk being left behind the rest of Europe, industry experts have warned.
An international coalition of hydrogen lobby groups has stressed the importance of hydrogen technologies at the Copenhagen climate talks this week, and drawn attention to the lack of funding for its development in the UK.
Jeffery Serfass, general manager of the Partnership for Advancing the Transition to Hyrdogen, said: “In addition to hydrogen’s ability to replace or more cleanly use carbon based fuels, hydrogen technologies encourage the widespread use of renewable energy.
“Hydrogen provides so many benefits and works cooperatively with such a wide variety of alternative energy technologies, no national government can afford to leave hydrogen out of its climate change plans.”
Although the UK government is funding R&D into hydrogen fuel cells through organisations such as the Technology Strategy Board and the Carbon Trust, there is little investment into the hydrogen infrastructure required to transport the gas or refuel vehicles. Some experts fear a situation could develop where a lack of infrastructure inhibits the use of the gas as a fuel.
Ian Williamson, vice chairmen of the UK Hydrogen Association, said that the UK government is focussing too strongly on the electric car.
He said: “The UK government has its sights set on the electric car to get to the hydrogen economy. We just don’t want to see them forget about investing in hydrogen.
“In Germany the government is investing more than €650 to help develop a hydrogen infrastructure. It’s nowhere near that in the UK.
Williamson said the plug-in electric vehicle combined with a hydrogen fuel cell will eventually become the norm in the UK, because they offer an emissions free way of extending the range of electric vehicles. He said: “Car companies see the advantages of the fuel cell more readily, but the government has got to provide some funding.”
© PE Publishing, 9 December 2009
