EUROPEAN PUBLIC TRANSPORT EXCURSION TO ICELAND
Why is Iceland so important for the future of the Hydrogen Technology Development as alternative fuel for ublic Transport?
There is a simple answer to this question. Iceland has no natural hydrocarbon resources Oil and Coal), but Iceland has plenty of electrical energy from Hydro- and Geothermal power schemes. with this low cost electrical power it is possible to make hydrogen at a competitive level with imported fuels, such as diesel and petrol. The Icelandic Government is determined that future transport on the island can use Hydrogen, made through electrolysis, as power ource. Especially public transport vehicles, run by the Iceland Bus company must be able yo use hydrogen in the future.
Therefore a test programme, called ECTOS (Ecological City Transport System) with 3 Hydrogen uses was started in 2003 and ends on January 9th, 2007, the starting day of this excursion. An ideal moment to get the first hand information on the test results under the most severe conditions.
Icelandic New energy:
This excursion is supported by Icelandic New Energy (INE). Icelandic New Energy was formed in 1999 with the goal to follow up the Icelandic governments policy, aiming to create a Hydrogen economy in Iceland and enable research. The first major project was to build the worlds first commercial Hydrogen refuelling station and demonstrate the station with 3 fuel-cell buses in commercial service. this demonstration ends on January 9th, 2007. A second demonstration is expected to start around mid of 2007, which will involve passenger vehicles and marine application.
The key to Iceland´s policy is future dependance on renewable energy. Iceland as an
abundant energy source and utilising his for
manufacturing of an energy carrier (Hydrogen) the country could become fully sustainable without any fossil imports in the future.
