ITM joins drive for hydrogen power in France

The Sheffield-based firm yesterday announced that it would be one of 20 consortium members participating in Mobilité Hydrogène France, which is backed by the French Association for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, and the Ministry of Ecology,

The partners have produced a plan to create a private and public hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in France between 2015 and 2030, including an analysis of its cost-effectiveness.

The French approach is co-funded by the stakeholders and the European Union, within the Hydrogen for Transport Infrastructure framework project.

The consortium has been formed in parallel with a draft European Directive to promote the development of alternative fuels such as electricity and hydrogen, which is being considered by the European Parliament and the European Council.

Dr Graham Cooley, the chief executive of ITM Power, said yesterday: “We are very pleased to be participating in the Mobilité Hydrogène France project as a founding member.

“It is good to see France, a significant EU member state, taking hydrogen and fuel cells so seriously as part of its renewable energy campaign and we look forward to the development of this exciting project.”

Professor Roger Putnam, ITM Power’s chairman, added: “We are delighted that France has joined the strong EU drive towards hydrogen mobility, now including Germany, the UK, Denmark and France.

“ITM Power is embedded in all of these countries.”

Last year, ITM Power revealed that energy giants Shell and National Grid had joined its hydrogen gas feasibility study, which explores the potential for the widespread use of the gas as fuel.

ITM has developed electrolyser technology to produce hydrogen gas from electricity and water.

Its hydrogen gas inject feasibility study has been funded by the Technology Strategy Board, under its smart power distribution and demand competition.

ITM’s project investigates the technical, financial and operational feasibility of injecting hydrogen gas into the national gas grid.

ITM’s study, which began last year, targets hydrogen generated from renewable energy, and includes early stage logistical research, and the simulation of hydrogen production from a wind farm.

With Britain’s renewable energy contribution set to rise in coming years, engineers are trying to findways to convert this intermittent electricity into readily-available and easily-stored fuel.

ITM believes creating hydrogen gas, and injecting this into the gas grid, will solve this problem.

ITM Power is commercialising a range of products which create hydrogen from renewable power, and serve activities including welding, cooking and vehicle re-fuelling.

In May, it was revealed that ITM Power was taking part in H2USA, a new partnership launched by the United States Energy Department to advance hydrogen infrastructure.

The new public-private partnership brings together auto manufacturers, government agencies, gas suppliers, and the hydrogen and fuel cell industries to co-ordinate research, and identify cost-effective ways of delivering affordable, clean hydrogen fuel in the US.