By Martin Banks - 11th November 2009
Fuel cell technologies are clean and efficient
Jean-Marc Tixhon
Fuel cell technology can deliver "clean, efficient and abundant" energy for Europe while creating economic growth, a conference in Brussels heard.
The conference was told, however, that to make this possible, "additional" public and private funding was needed.
Jean-Marc Tixhon, chairman of FeulCellEurope, told the conference, "Fuel cell technologies are clean and efficient.
"They have the potential to contribute to EU energy policy and are part of the solution to tackle climate change."
He welcomed the €5bn sum proposed by the commission for fuel cell and hydrogen energy projects but said more investment was needed.
The meeting heard that market energy targets set by the fuel cell industry "will require substantial additional effort."
The Brussels conference, organised by the commission, focused on the commission's call for a shift of money towards supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Meanwhile, a debate in parliament on Tuesday heard that any move towards creating a low-carbon economy required "wholehearted political support."
Nigel Knee, of the French EDF energy group, told the meeting that without such support "our investments will be at risk."
His comments come after the UK government announced on Tuesday that it plans to build ten new nuclear plants in Britain.
Knee, a keynote speaker at the debate "nuclear new build in the UK," said the UK has "significant" reserves of energy sources, namely coal, oil and natural gas.
He added, "But these reserves are declining and the fact that the UK still relies for 70 per cent of its energy needs on such sources of energy has raised concern about the carbon footprint involved."
He warned, however, that "it is essential we take the local community with us," in attempts to promote nuclear as an energy option.
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