Overview
The Directive 2014/94/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure defines a common framework of measures for the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure in the European Union in order to minimize dependence on oil and to mitigate the environmental impact of transport. It sets out minimum requirements for the building-up of alternative fuels infrastructure, including hydrogen refuelling stations (HRS) for hydrogen-fuelled fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV). The current lack of refuelling infrastructure is the key barrier to development of the market for hydrogen. Interventions for stimulating implementation of HRS infrastructure are therefore necessary.
The Action is carried forward by the Region Normandie. It aligns with a global project established by the Department of La Manche –part of Normandie- to guide the transition towards a low carbon economy. It consists on an innovative energy transition roadmap, which maximizes the use of local energy resources and production assets while lowering the carbon intensity of its economy, using hydrogen as a cornerstone. Within this framework a regional hydrogen mobility plan is being implemented to replace part of the regional fleet with hydrogen vehicles (potentially one third of the fleet by 2050). The plan consists of three phases: Initiation (2014), Pilot (2015-2018) and Commercial (2019 and beyond).
The Action fits into the second part of the mobility plan and aims at studying, optimizing and testing the conditions for hydrogen mobility to be competitive in the global mobility market. It will do so by simplifying access to hydrogen mobility, by minimizing the initial capital investment required to deploy the refilling stations and by providing telematics applications to monitor the overall hydrogen mobility dynamics. These cost reductions, linked to those stemming from increased volume production, should lead to an economically viable hydrogen supply chain, with hydrogen distributed at a price lower than 8 €/kg H2 (corresponding to a travel distance of 100 km for a car), whereas gasoline prices would lead to a cost of 10 € per 100 km for an equivalent car.
The Action consists primarily of a study with real-life trial supported by public entities through a grant scheme with a medium scale deployment of hydrogen mobility infrastructure, tightly associated to regular users (i.e.; a representative market) will be monitored to gather knowledge. Pilot generated data will be analysed in studies addressing:
- Economic parameters and business model attractiveness
- Station technical data
- Hydrogen supply-chain optimization
- Users and community feedback.
Hence, the financing of refuelling stations through a grant scheme is a key element of the Action.
This Action is focused on the cost-efficiency and the deployment strategy of the distribution infrastructure (refuelling stations) bundled to the very first deployment of fuel cell vehicles, mainly in captive fleets. It covers the supply chain of the hydrogen, from the production to its consumption inside the vehicle, through distribution by the refuelling stations, but excluding the sourcing of hydrogen and the purchase of vehicles.
To achieve the above-mentioned objectives the Action will be implemented in six activities: (1) Action management; (2) Business scheme design and implementation, (3) Deployment of stations and operations; (4) Hydrogen distribution and logistics, (5) Telematics and (6) Social acceptance and dissemination.
The Action is expected to produce the following deliverables:
- Identification of economic key performance indicators and target prices as part of the total cost of ownership - Environmental and social impacts of the Action