Abraham Announces Canada to Join International Partnership for Hydrogen Economy; Supports Bush's Hydrogen Initiative 10/16/2003
From: Tom Welch of the U.S. Department of Energy, 202-586-5806 OTTAWA, Canada, Oct. 16 -- Following a meeting today with Minister of Natural Resources Canada Herb Dhaliwal, U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced Canada's intention to join the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy. "We are pleased to learn of Canada's decision to join the partnership for hydrogen and fuel cell technology research, development and demonstration activities," Secretary Abraham said. "International cooperation is key to achieving the hydrogen and fuel cell program goals outlined by President Bush in his last State of the Union address." Secretary Abraham called for international hydrogen collaboration in his speech to the International Energy Agency Ministerial Meeting last April in Paris, France. The Secretary will host a Ministerial Meeting of the International Partnership this fall in the United States. Several other countries have shown interest in joining the partnership. The International Partnership will support the deployment of hydrogen energy technologies, establishing collaborative efforts in hydrogen production, storage, transport, and end-use technologies; common codes and standards for hydrogen fuel utilization; and the sharing of information necessary to develop hydrogen fueling infrastructure. A growing number of countries have committed to accelerate the development of hydrogen energy technologies in order to improve their energy, economic, and environmental security. For example, the United States has committed $1.7 billion for the first five years of a long-term research and development program for hydrogen, hydrogen infrastructure, fuel cells, and hybrid vehicle technologies. The European Union has committed up to 2 billion Euros to long-term research and development of renewable and hydrogen energy technologies. Canada has a well developed hydrogen and fuel cell technology research and development program addressing applications in the transportation and electric utility sectors. The use of hydrogen as an energy carrier offers several important advantages relative to existing systems. Hydrogen can be derived from multiple feedstocks, which fosters fuel versatility. End-use technologies that employ hydrogen, such as fuel cells, are more efficient and can be used safely while improving the environment and public health. "The vision of the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy is that a participating country's consumers will have the practical option of purchasing a competitively priced hydrogen power vehicle, and be able to refuel it near their homes and places of work, by 2020." Secretary Abraham said. --- -- Joint Statement by the United States Department of Energy and the Department of Natural Resources Canada: We affirm our commitment, on behalf of the United States and Canada, to collaborate on accelerating the development of the hydrogen economy as part of our broadening cooperation on energy. We aim to enhance the security of energy supply, increase diversity of energy sources, and improve local and global environmental quality. Our cooperation will contribute to laying the scientific, technical, legal, and regulatory framework needed to accelerate the commercial penetration and trade of emissions-free hydrogen technology worldwide, in cars, buildings, portable applications and power generation, to secure to our citizens the abundant, secure, and clean energy required to sustain growth, ensure security, and protect the environment. In this context, we see the potential of the hydrogen economy in establishing a secure energy supply through clean and environmentally sound systems for production, storage and use of hydrogen. We will seek to build on our ongoing collaboration and complementarities in our research efforts and actively explore and understand technology options, including renewable energy sources, for boosting the development of hydrogen energy. We agree to: -- further the goals of future energy security as well as sustainable development which carefully balances sustained economic growth, preserves the environment, and achieves related social benefits; -- strengthen joint cooperation to work for universally compatible codes, standards, and regulations; -- strengthen joint cooperation on research, development and demonstration; and -- work together to foster public-private collaboration. These joint efforts will assist us to make the most of our domestic investments; bring to bear the expertise of the public and private sector to solve the complex challenges surrounding the hydrogen economy; establish sound, universally compatible codes, standards, and regulations for hydrogen fuel storage and utilization. They will provide a strong and broad foundation for bilateral and multilateral cooperation, such as under the proposed International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy, the International Energy Agency and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Energy and Natural Resources Canada for collaboration on Energy Research and Development. |