European Parliament agrees on the joint hydrogen platform

A one billion euro project to back research and businesses

The European Parliament has welcomed the initiative to set up a common platform for the development of hydrogen and fuel cell based energy systems with a one billion euro budget between 2008 and 2017.

The debate on the issue brought to an agreement which will create opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses. With a majority of 591 favourable votes, 13 against and 15 abstentions, the European Parliament considers the 470 million euro subsidy just a start-up sum, and not the “maximum” one hinted at by the Commission, and claims that such an amount of money should cover “current costs”.

However, the subsidy will certainly undergo a medium-term revision, taking into account the goals achieved, the implementations as well as the impact of the joint initiative. Actually, the industry-led European ‘Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform’ agreed on an implementation plan whose estimated 7.4 billion euro budget between 2007 and 2015 was to meet the new technological challenges, a third of which to used for research and development.

However, the European Parliament urges the joint platform “to place the EU at the forefront for hydrogen and fuel cell based technologies and to have them marketed because of the great advantages they will bring about.” A favourable opinion was also expressed for the joint support to research from the member states: that will help get over the market deficiencies, aim at the development of new products and encourage public and private investments on research in this sector.

Parliament also insists on the role of the joint platform to create the conditions to set up and manage the technologically advanced hydrogen and fuel cell initiative as well as to inform the PMI on its activities and promote participation. A further element is emphasized: the maximum level of public money granted, as far as university research centres are concerned, should be over 50%, compared to other institutions.