The National Hydrogen Council is a vital element of the German hydrogen strategy published in June and comprises 26 representatives for industry, academia and civil society.
National Hydrogen Council launched
environment
German government invests in green hydrogen
There it is – the national hydrogen strategy. Five federal ministries presented the cabinet-approved final concept in Berlin on June 10. Querulous months of intense cross-ministry wrangling over hydrogen colors, the targeted electrolyzer capacity and committee rosters preceded strategy publication as sector representatives prowled, yearning for news. Ultimately, the governing coalition agreed on a whopping EUR 7 billion package, plus an additional 2 billion for potential hydrogen export countries.
Federal Ministry for the Environment improves CHP support
At the end of 2014 the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Construction and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) revised the mini CHP (combined heat and power) impulse program. It has now been in force since 1st January 2015, and has brought with it a range of new developments for FC heating equipment in particular, as fuel cells are more effective than conventional heating elements, a factor that is henceforth receiving funding. With this revision, the BMUB has used an
Will China be a pioneer in FC mobility?
Considering the current fuel cell activities in China, it can be concluded with some certainty that over the course of years to come, the People’s Republic will not suddenly become a pioneer in the field of FC mobility. At the same time, however, in the area of research and development and on the governmental side, the country is now doing some initial groundwork with the use of renewable energy in the area of energy supply. Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are playing an important role here.
Rainer Seele leads OMV
Since 1st July 2015, Dr. Rainer Seele has been the new Board Chairman and Managing Director of the incorporated company OMV. As reported by the supervisory board of OMV AG, Seele was given a three-year contract with the option of extension for another two years. Seele, who is married and the father of three grown-up children, is following in the footsteps of Gerhard Roiss, who – as reported by the Austrian gas and oil company – left the company on 30th June 2015 on the basis of mutual agreement.