The Commission on 20 January 2004 launched the 'European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology' Platform, whose Advisory Council is composed of major private and public stakeholders in the European hydrogen sector. The remit of the new platform is to promote and smoothen the EU's transitions from a fossil fuel based economy to a 'hydrogen economy' while gaining worldwide leadership in this new technology.
The Commission had on 10 September presented a Communication proposing the creation of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Technology Partnership (see EurActiv 10 September 2003). This initiative was then included in the list of priority transport and research projects in the framework of the 'European Growth Initiative' designed to boost competitiveness and growth in Europe. The Commission's push for hydrogen can be seen as a response to the US 'Freedom Car' initiative which the US government announced in 2002.
Hydrogen is considered by many as an alternative, 'clean' energy. However, critics point out that hydrogen is not a primary energy source like coal and gas, and that producing hydrogen is an extremely energy-intensive process itself. Most hydrogen today is made by using natural gas, resulting in the same green house gas emissions which proponents of the technology are seeking to avoid. Environmentalists have therefore called for a focus on renewable energies for hydrogen production.
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