European companies push for fuel cell JTI

A total of 45 companies from across Europe have joined forces to push for the creation of a Joint Technology Initiative (JTI) for fuel cells and hydrogen technology.

The companies, which include Rolls Royce Fuel Cell Systems from the UK and Italy’s SOFC Power, have formed an association called the JTI Industry Grouping as a first step to creating a JTI. The group is now pressing the European Commission to accelerate plans to create the JTI (a public-private partnership) on fuel cells and hydrogen.

“If Europe is serious about addressing climate change, security of energy supply and competitiveness in new technologies, we must unite forces and have a strong public-private partnership to accelerate the wide-scale market introduction of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies,” commented Herbert Kohler, chairman of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform and a JTI Industry Grouping member.

“The European industry has repeatedly shown over the past three years that it is ready to invest in a Joint Technology Initiative the last step being the founding of the respective Industry Grouping.”

“The establishment of a JTI for fuel cells and hydrogen needs to occur without further delay. Not moving forward on this would be a lost opportunity for Europe,” Kohler added.