Fuel cells commercialization roadmap released

A long-awaited commercialization roadmap for the fuel cells industry has identified four key steps to move the sector forward, including more demonstration projects, early purchase programs and increased collaborative R&D.

The Canadian Fuel Cell Commercialization Roadmap brings together the views of 45 organizations from the private, academic and government sectors and is being touted as a valuable tool for all three sectors.

The four steps — stimulating early market demand, improving product quality while reducing costs, financing and creating a support infrastructure — are accompanied by a series of proposed actions and recommendations.

For financing, the roadmap recommends the development of financial incentives for fuel cell services and products, the identification and pursuit of development partners and a strengthening of geographic clusters to attract investment. R&D on materials and components and products standardization are urged to bring costs down to the point where where cells become competitive with other fuel sources.

“We’re hopeful that the roadmap is a milestone although there’s still nothing concrete from government,” says Ron Britton, Fuel Cells Canada’s president and CEO. “It’s a positive step in that it gives both government and the private sector an opportunity to operate from a common prayer book.”

The roadmap was facilitated by the Vancouver office of PricewaterhouseCoopers, which co-produced a comprehensive report on the industry last year that provided baseline data for ongoing discussions with government officials and laid the groundwork for continued public investment in the sector (R$, July 8/02).

Funding for the project was provided by the Climate Change Technology Development and Innovation program, a $19-million sub-component of Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change. The latter was launched in 2000 with $500 million over five years under the co-direction of the ministers of Natural Resources Canada and Environment Canada, in conjunction with other departments.

A proposal was brought forward for Budget consideration earlier this year but the sector came away empty handed. Since then, a more detailed proposal has been presented, re-iterating the need for a national strategy involving all players, increased support for basic R&D and one-off and large, long-term demonstration projects.

The roadmap was released by Industry minister Alan Rock in Toyko as part of a trade mission to promote increased direct foreign investment.

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