ENT7: Alternative fuels, propulsion systems and vehicle technologies. Part 2: Joint projects and large scale demonstration projects

Background and contents

Alternative Propulsion systems and fuels are a hot spot of emerging new energy and transport technologies. Important industrial sectors (Automotive, aeronautics, energy utilities, environment technologies) are under tremendous pressure to reconcile environmental concern with economic growth, industrial competitiveness and looming technological change. Next to this the high oil prize threatens the world economy. Demand pressure from Asian emerging markets and missing additional production capacities is likely to keep this price high.

From a policy standpoint there are three EU policy issues that drive the development of alternative fuels and vehicles:

•           Improving the security of supply;

•           Reducing greenhouse gas emissions; and to a somewhat lesser extent;

•           Reducing air quality emissions.

The national policies of the European member states are partly already set up to set clear national targets and to provide funding programmes for the Transport R&D communities to develop technological solutions in the intrinsically linked fields of:

•           the fuels itself,

•           the alternative propulsion systems within the vehicles, and

•           the needed infrastructure.

Key ideas and objectives

The action group ENT7 has the clear aim to initiate trans-national cooperation of transport research programme owners and –managers for joint large scale demonstration and/or light-house projects in the very specific field of alternative propulsions systems and fuels.

During the discussion at the kick-off meeting in Utrecht, it popped up that in different national transport research policy cultures, different meanings of the term “demonstration project” are applicable. Therefore this group differentiates 3 project categories in its thematic field for the following activities. These are:

•           “pilots and demonstrators” (pre-competitive R&D projects that demonstrate the technological possibilities for realisation)

•           “lighthouse projects” (Lighthouse projects are defined by an integrated approach with high visibility that links supply and demand through a deployment strategy that includes infrastructure and (social) economic issues);

•           “medium and large scale demonstration projects” (demonstration and realisation on clearly defined topics, with          various technologies, carried out by several cooperating actors in the field of research, small and medium enterprises, industry and public administration)

All three of this project categories might be suitable for trans-national cooperation for a greener transport in Europe.

A first draft concept of the action group leaders is the GREEN-corridor concept that aims to enlarge and link existing spots, like alternative fuelling stations (e.g. bio fuel on site production stations) along the main transport corridors of the participating countries.

Participating countries

The main interested countries at the starting phase of ENT7 were Austria, Germany, The Netherlands and Norway. In the meantime France, Sweden and the United Kingdom has expressed their interest and attended the ENT7 kick-off meeting in Utrecht.

Expected results and aim of cooperation

This AG creates a trans-national policy network (public administration) where programme owners and- managers of various countries will have the possibility to exchange knowledge and information across the national boarders on a regular basis. If this initiative becomes a self-driven platform it might easily be extended either for bi-, or multi-lateral cooperation activities or extended to an innovation network (public administration and research arena).

Furthermore it will provide short and well prepared background information reports as a basis for further possible joint activities.

And last but not least concrete joint activities should be launched, like a joint trans-national call for proposals/tenders, and necessary accompanying measures should be recommended.

Status and intermediate results

The Kick-Off meeting took place on the 29th of September 2006 where the participating countries presented their national R&D framework or Transport, in the field of alternative propulsion systems and fuels.

Action group leader and support

This action group is lead and supported by the trans-national AG-leader team, consisting of:

•           Mr. Floris Mulder

(SenterNovem; commissioned by the Dutch ministry of Transport , Public Works, and Water Management), f.mulder@senternovem.nl

•           Mr. Heimo Kropf

(BMVIT, Austrian Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology, Unit of Mobility and Transport Technologies), heimo.Kropf@bmvit.gv.at