Visions & Politics
More Hydrogen Municipalities in Denmark
By PEB
Jul 29, 2008 - 10:56:56 AM

In the announcement from the Hydrogen Link Association in Denmark regarding conversion of electric vehicles to hydrogen and fuel cell powered vehicles in connection with the UN Climate Summit in 2009, several municipalities are mentioned as participants including Copenhagen, Herning, Holstebro, and Aarhus.

As previously reported, The City of Copenhagen has decided to place an order of sixteen hydrogen powered vehicles as part of the Danish EUDP (Energy Development and Demonstration Programme) decision to fund the development of the second generation vehicle.

The hydrogen fuel cell vehicle will be based on the Norwegian Think Electric Vehicle, which will be converted to drive on hydrogen. The batteries give the vehicle a driving range of 150km per charge, and the hydrogen and fuel cell system is expected to add some 90km per refueling giving a total driving range of 240 km. At present the vehicle is reported to cost 1mil DKK, but with the EUDP-funding and further developments, the vehicle is estimated to be priced at 750.000 DKK.

Other Hydrogen Cities in Denmark

One of the mentioned Hydrogen Cities is the Municipality of Holstebro. The administration of the City confirms that they have indicated willingness to purchase two to five hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles based on conversion of the Think Electric Vehicle as part of the City’s climate initiatives for the 2009 event.

The City’s administration also confirms that H2 Logic was amongst the participants of the so-called pre-project advisory and evaluation that resulted in recommendations to the City of Holstebro.

In the City of Herning, the responsible person of the project is currently unavailable for comments due to vacation, but public records show that the Municipality has paid H2 Logic a consultant fee to deliver recommendations regarding a hydrogen filling station and assessed the driving needs of the public vehicles in the Municipality of Herning.

According to public record, the City of Herning has placed a conditional order for four hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the same vein as Copenhagen. The condition is that at least five vehicles are purchased by privates.

Skepticism in Aarhus – Improve Conditions for Cyclists

As part of the UN Climate Summit to be held in Denmark in 2009, the City of Aarhus – the second largest city in Denmark – is currently in the process of evaluating and preparing initiatives. The City Council of Aarhus has decided that the City must be CO2-Neutral in 2030. Looking at the whole energy value chain, including buildings and transport, the City of Aarhus has compiled a CO2-emissions chart and proposed a plan of action for the years to come.

Head of Environmental Section of Aarhus, Mr Claus Nickelsen informs that the City of Aarhus is preparing a budget proposal of 12mil DKK to climate initiatives. According to Mr Nickelsen there are several possible routes for introducing new products and developments.

“It is essential to get off on the right track to get value for our money,” says Mr Nickelsen. For this reason, and as Mr Nickelsen points out: “12 mil [DKK] is not a lot of money in the energy business, and we have to look at energy efficiency of our buildings besides the transport segment,” Aarhus expect to focus on long term planning and solid evaluations.

To Mr Nickelsen’s knowledge, there are no plans in the City for Aarhus to purchase hydrogen vehicles as part of the City’s preparation for the UN Climate Summit in 2009.

Regarding the transport sector, the Environmental Action Plan, which is currently in a public hearing, places great emphasis on improving general conditions to cyclists. It is the City of Aarhus’ intention to become an internationally branded City for Cyclists, and thereby introduce change in the transport sector.

Mr Nickelsen, however do point out that some private industries in the Harbor of Aarhus have an excess production of hydrogen, and that this production at some point in the future might become useful.