Wales, United Kingdom

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Construction work has started on Wales' first Renewable Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Centre

News Wales (January 2008) Read Article

Background / framework

In Wales hydrogen is increasingly seen as the versatile fuel of the future and the basis for a low carbon economy. The National Assembly for Wales is committed to sustainable development, is supporting and promoting Wales as a global showcase for renewable energies and sees the development of renewable energies as a source of employment. The political/governmental impetus is appointed to promote sustainable development and renewables to enhance industrial, rural and commercial opportunities and to support the transition to a hydrogen economy. The "Energy Wales" initiative compremises a team dedicated to policy and strategy development of a low carbon and more competitive future of Wales including hydrogen potentials and timescales.

Strategy / Programmes

Cymru H2 Wales

Aims to create a strategy for transition to a hydrogen economy in Wales and to identify the most viable demonstration projects for a second project phase including costs and funding sources

Hydrogen Valley H2V

A 15-year journey plan, from 2005 to 2020.

Short-term target (5 years): network organisation and management, technology demonstration, demand generation;

Medium-term target (5-10 years): commercial awareness and exploitation;

Long-term target (10-15 years): growth and sustainability, vision establishment.

Currently a Hydrogen Valley H2V cluster has been officially launched, initial cluster members signed up, a steering group officially formed, and a project list with schedules is currently being compiled.

Vision of a H2 Economy in Wales:

Phase 1 (2005-2010): development and demonstration of technologies, establishment of policies and stimulation of early demand,

Phase 2 (2010-2020): commercial exploitation of early marketsand creation of public acceptance,

Phase 3 (2020-2035): market growth, establishment of supporting infrastructure and sustainable production routes,

Phase 4 (2035 +): achievement of the hydrogen energy vision.

Funding / Budgets

Investments on national level (UK):

1998-2003: realisation of 160 H2FC projects (focus on R&D) with a budget of approx. £89 million (€130m) including £12.4 million (€17-18m) funding from governmental sources through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)

"Advanced Fuel Cell Programm" 2003:

£2 million annual (€2.85m/year) governmemal funding of H2FC projects 2005: DTI published "A Strategic Framework For Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Activity" in the UK which includes a funding of £15 million (approx. €22m) over 4 years (2005-2009) for a UK wide H2FC demo programme

Ongoing and planned in 2007: industrial R&D: support for industrial H2FC R&D (both stationary and transport applications) through the "Technology Programme" with an annual budget of approx. £2-3 million (€3m - €4.4m) basic R&D: on hydrogen generation, storage and socio-economic analysis with support from

• the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council and the SUPERGEN Inititive (SUPERGEN supports the Sustainable Hydrogen Energy Consortium (EPSRC) which has recived funding of £2.5 million (approx. €3.7m))
• Fuel cells: also supported by the EPSRC (4 year programme (2005-2009), funding of £2.085 million (approx. €3m))

Further H2 research:

£1 million (€1.5m) on a new chemical storage method,

£500,000 (€735,000) on fundamental research H2 demomonstration & infrastructure.

Current demonstration Projects and acitivities (H2 for transport)

Cymru H2 Wales: EU funded project with 100 stakeholders,

Its aim: to create a strategy for the transition to a hydrogen economy in Wales.

Hydrogen Valley (H2V): funded by the "Welsh Development Agency (WDA)", Welsh Assembly Government and the European Commission with the target to attract and support hydrogen related industry to Wales.

Vehicles

Planned: hydrogen perfomance car, demo of a H2 Ferry in Cardiff Bay, H2 Bay Bus, Hyt-Hy project (development and demonstration of at least 5 and potentially 35 hydrogen vehicles with ICEs (hydrogen/CNG) including refueling facility at Baglan).

Filling stations

H2 production: existing production facilities in Aberystwyth (biohydrogen from crops) and Barry (biohydrogen from wheatfeed).

Hydrogen Research centre in Glamorgan planned.

Hydrogen production facility: in Llanidloes/Hirwaun (Bio-H2 from

solid waste), in Onllwyn (H2 from coal) hydrogen R&D:

Lllanelli Coastal Hydrogen Centre, Baglan Renewable Hydrogen Centre (H2 production via electrolysis, application in FC and ICE vehicles refueling facility: planned at Baglan (mixed H2/CNG).

Networks / Cooperations

UK "Sustainable Hydrogen Energy Consortium (SHEC)"