European 'laboratory for hydrogen projects': a vision for Iceland Representatives from Iceland have spoken of their desire to create a 'hydrogen society', and highlighted the part the country will play in the development and widespread acceptance of fuel cell technologies. Speaking at an Energy Day hosted by the Icelandic Mission to the EU ... Representatives from Iceland have spoken of their desire to create a 'hydrogen society', and highlighted the part the country will play in the development and widespread acceptance of fuel cell technologies. Speaking at an Energy Day hosted by the Icelandic Mission to the EU in Brussels on 14 October, politicians, researchers and industrialists from the island nation outlined its role as a key partner on hydrogen technology projects. Iceland is currently involved in a number of EU funded activities in this area, and aims to extend its collaboration when calls for proposals are made for the Sixth Framework Programme in the near future. Jón Skúlason is the General Manager of Icelandic New Energy Ltd. (INE), a partner in the EU's ECTOS project that aims to demonstrate the use of fuel cells in a fleet of three hydrogen buses in Reykjavík. At the event, he said that 'Iceland can become the future laboratory for hydrogen projects. By working in cooperation with the EU and industry, it will be possible to create the first true 'hydrogen society'.' Indeed, Iceland's role goes far beyond this demonstration. The country has been selected by the EU as the ideal location for a full economic and social impact assessment of fuel cell buses, work that will shape the future of EU policy in the field. The three buses, due to begin service in the second half of 2003, will represent four per cent of the country's total fleet, a proportion that would be difficult to achieve in other parts of Europe. Public support for the technology is also strong; a recent social survey showed that 93 per cent of citizens see hydrogen as the fuel for the future. It is estimated that, due to the concentration of the population in and around Reykjavik, only three to six filling stations would require conversion to hydrogen to give most consumers the daily access they would need. There is also strong government support for Iceland's role as a leader in hydrogen technologies. Valgerdur Sverrisdóttir, the Minister for Energy and Commerce and a keynote speaker at the meeting, spoke of her desire to see the widespread introduction of fuel cell cars for private use in the next 10 to 20 years. Such levels of interest in hydrogen fuel have led to the creation of numerous other national and international initiatives. INE, along with industry partners Shell and Norse Hydro, are evaluating the feasibility and impact of introducing a full-scale hydrogen infrastructure to Iceland. There is also an EU funded project underway called the Fuel Cell Ship, which is a paper-based study on the use of fuel cells for large vessels. On a similar theme, the ambitious NAVIGEN project hopes to develop a fishing boat powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, with the ultimate aim of creating the world's first emissions free fishing fleet. With further projects planned, Iceland appears well on the way to achieving its aim of becoming a laboratory for hydrogen technology. There appears such a strong commitment to the production of hydrogen, in fact, that studies are already being carried out on the feasibility of exporting excess fuel from Iceland. With the demand for 'green' energy high within the EU, it is not inconceivable to imagine that one day, power from Europe's cold outpost in the North Atlantic could be helping to keep us all warm.
