Deutsche Messe AG /
Arno A. Evers FAIR-PR /
Forum for Future Energy Sources
Language:
English, simultaneous
interpreting in German
Hydrogen needs to be cheap for
people to purchase. Natural sources that are available
in abundance and can be used to produce hydrogen
include natural gas, coal, wind, and solar power.
These sources would still minimize environmental
pollution, yet be competitive options for fossil
fuels.
Both developing and developed countries are interested
in understanding how hydrogen can bring more economically
and environmentally friendly energy solutions to
a more self-sustaining society.
Alternative energy sources such as photovoltaic
and windpower are good examples of commercialized
alternative energy sources in Europe that can serve
as a similar pathway to commercialization of hydrogen
fuel cells. Renewable energies are the future, but
there are varying approaches to what the future
marketplace will look like.
Part III: Decentralized energy
systems -
a revolution in the energy market?
13:00 -
15:30
Realization:
Commercialization of Hydrogen Technology and Fuel
Cells
Visions
become reality
Fuel cells are among the key technologies of this
new century. By harnessing the power of fuel cells
and exploiting hydrogen on a commercial scale,
our industrial society in general and energy providers
in particular stand to reap benefits of global
proportion. For countries whose infrastructure
is still in the process of development, hydrogen
technology provides the ideal means for achieving
a climate-friendly energy policy. More than one
thousand companies and organizations worldwide
are working towards the commercialization of this
rapidly expanding technological sector.
Market launch is imminent. An international
line-up of experts discussed how hydrogen can
best be commercialized as a fuel source. With
market launches just around the corner, it will
soon be necessary to move from the trial stage
into full-scale production. There is a need for
marketable solutions which demonstrate the superiority
of fuel cells in stationary, mobile and portable
applications.
Speakers:
Prof. T. Nejat
Veziroglu
President, International Association
for Hydrogen Energy
Director, Clean Energy Research Institute
University of Miami, FL, USA
"Energy production is directly related
to per capita income, and the gap is growing
with industrialized countries now at $25,000
vs. $2,500-$3,000 per capita of a developing
country. Hydrogen would assist in minimizing
this gap.
Once a person buys a hydrogen car, they will
never purchase a internal combustion vehicle
again. By 2015, synthetic fuel will be a requirement."
David Haberman
Member of the Federal Hydrogen Technical Advisory
Panel,
Washington, DC, USA
"The US Government has included hydrogen
and fuel cell initiatives as an important
technology development. A lot is happening
now in hydrogen technologies. There are projects
in research and development, demonstration
and transportation (Freedom Car), which will
be funded this year. The Hydrogen Futures
Act will be reauthorized by Congress soon
providing five more years of support. There
are many niche markets which will allow early
adaption of fuel cells. There are hydrogen
fuel cell energy products currently available
from the growing industrial base. In the last
three years we have seen Wall Street began
to show confidence in the potential of the
hydrogen vision.
US Government believes hydrogen will be
an important part of the future national
energy portifolio. Besides the environmental
and energy efficiency benefits there is
now additional importance placed upon the
energy security potential of hydrogen."
Prof. Dr. rer.
nat. Angelika Heinzel
Univ.-Prof.
Gerhard-Mercator-University Duisburg
Duisburg, Germany
"Niche applications appear to be the
leading application in the race to commercialization,
followed by portables, as consumers are willing
to pay the lithium ion prices for batteries.
This is one of the reasons why Fraunhofer
has focused its concentration on portable
applications."
David L. Peet
Director
DuPont Fuel Cell Enterprise
Wilmington, DE, USA
"In the next 36 months, the best opportunities
exist in addressing the operating life, and
reliability issues of fuel cell technology.
The key year of 2005 will be one of broader
expansion for applications in residential
and small commercial products. Fossil fuels
won't be replaced, but an alternative reliable
energy source will provide a robust economy
that will make a foothole across all major
opportunities."
Present by Teleconference
from Carlsbad, CA, USA
John R. Wallace
Executive Director
Th!nk Mobility, LLC
Carlsbad, CA, USA
"Internal combustion engines have up
to 75% efficiency improvements anticipated
in the near future. It will not be easy to
defeat this century old champion of energy.
In the long run, renewable energies will be
the pathway for continued mobility and security
of reliable energy, and to a lesser degree,
the environmental issues."
Manfred Stefener
CEO
Smart Fuel Cell GmbH
Munich, Germany
"Between 2003-2004, consumer and professional
electronics will be available with fuel cell
technology. Consumer electronics has the greatest
commercial potential in this marketplace.
We use methanol in lieu of pure hydrogen due
to the high storage density of low volumes
for long running times. A laptop could run
on not much more than a wine glass of methanol
for ten hours, and has a high degree of reliability."
Moderator:
Ulrich
Walter
Arno A. Evers FAIR-PR
Starnberg, Germany