Several European companies are calling for the establishment of a Joint Technology Initiative (JTI) for fuel cells and hydrogen technology.

In total, 45 organisations from across Europe have joined together in an effort to get the European Union to establish a JTI to help in the further development of fuel cells.

Among those companies currently involved in the drive are Rolls Royce Fuel Cell Systems and Italy's SOFC Power and an association called the JTI Industry Grouping has been created in an effort to give them a stronger voice within the European Union.

Herbert Kohler, chairman of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform and a JTI Industry Grouping member, explained: "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.

"He added: "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."

Sources:

'European companies push for fuel cell Joint Technology Initiative', 4/4/07. http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/FuelCellToday/IndustryInformation/IndustryInformationExternal/NewsDisplayArticle/0,1602,8991,00.html

'45 companies from all over Europe join forces to move forward on the JTI on fuel cells and hydrogen', 3/4/07 http://www.fuelcellsworks.com/Supppage7148.html  

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