Europe leads the way to green energy

DESPITE the reluctance of the US to sign up to firm targets on global warming at the G8 summit, the European Union is pushing ahead with ambitious plans to convert to green energy.

However, European governments were warned that they must be willing to fund the necessary research if they are to replace fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik said he was very worried by the attitude of Europe’s leaders when they cut the budget for R&D at their summit in Brussels last month.

During the negotiations on the EU budget for the next seven years, the amount for research and development, education and innovation was cut by 41%. “During the debate this was getting smaller and I fear the budget will not be up to the challenges coming from the world that Europe is living in. This is worrying me“, he said.

At present Europe leads the way in developing alternative and sustainable energy and in designing energy efficient technologies from central heating to hi-fi systems.

One of potential alternatives scientists are focusing on is creating a hydrogen economy that will help replace fossil fuels such as oil and gas that are running out and are polluting the environment.

One important initiative, a facility designed to make hydrogen fuel a reality, was officially opened by Mr Potocnik in Holland yesterday. Already hydrogen buses operate in a number of European cities while BMW has announced it will make hydrogen cars available in the next five years.

Wheelchairs, airplanes, ships and even mobile phones - all powered by clean, green hydrogen fuel cells whose only emission is water are close to becoming a reality.

“We are all aware of the need to find clean, safe and affordable sources of energy, as energy demand rises and Europe becomes ever more dependent on imported energy. The potential of hydrogen is very exciting,” said Mr Potocnik.

But the problem with hydrogen is how to produce it cheaply, store it safely and use it efficiently.

At present most hydrogen is produced from natural gas and it takes much more energy to create it than it saves. Huge sums are being spent around the world researching alternative sources, such as water and developing new ways of delivering it.

The new facility at the EU’s Institute for Energy in Petten near Amsterdam is developing practical and safe methods of using the fuel. It will test how to fill hydrogen tanks fast and safely, how to store fuel cells in transport that are safe in the icy conditions of Iceland and the summer heat of Madrid.

Private companies like Shell are involved in developing hydrogen alternatives to petrol and diesel. Chief Executive Officer of Shell Hydrogen Jeremy Bentham says they are setting up mini-networks of transport fleets and the necessary refueling facilities for them. But it could be 35 years before a substantial proportion of new vehicles are powered by hydrogen.

The commission helped establish a Technology Platform for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells that brings together industry, public authorities and researchers that are putting together a plan of measures they will take to move towards a hydrogen economy.

China is also researching hydrogen as an alternative, taking it from its big coal reserves. The country’s demand for fuel is growing at an alarming rate and at present it too is excluded from Kyoto. One of the US objections to signing up to Kyoto is that it does not include developing countries like China.

However, hydrogen is just one of many alternative sources of energy for the future and another developing country, Brazil, is successfully developing ethenol from sugar cane.