The German National Innovation Programme Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology

Abstract

To support the market introduction of fuel cells and hydrogen for energetic use in Germany, the National Innovation Programme Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology was set up in 2006. The German Federal Government together with representatives from research organisations as well as from various industry sectors were involved in designing the programme. Combined funds from the public and private sectors amount to Euro 1.4 billion and cover the period 2007–2016. About one‐third of this total is to fund R&D and two‐third to finance demonstration and market preparation projects. The National Organization Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology manages the implementation in close collaboration with its partner organisation Project Management Organization Jülich, and in continuous consultation with the key stakeholders. This article spells out the main characteristics of the Innovation Programme and the organisations involved.

Creating and shaping innovation systems: Formal networks in the innovation system for stationary fuel cells in Germany

“…The NIP is an integrated support program in which research and development and demonstration are closely interlinked, and the federal government, science and industry have pledged support for the development of a German fuel cell industry with h1.4 billion until 2016 (Bonhoff, 2009;Garche et al, 2009). An intermediary organization, the National Organization for Fuel Cells and Hydrogen (NOW GmbH) was also founded to organize the implementation of the NIP.…”

Networks and network resources in technological innovation systems: Towards a conceptual framework for system building

“…Networks in the field of fuel cells usually compete for public awareness and support. In the Fuel Cell Alliance Germany, however, they cooperated to set-up a National Innovation program of hydrogen and fuel cells (NIP) and a roadmap, the National Development Plan (NEP) as important system resources [11,37]. 4 In order to implement the NIP, and to prevent inefficiencies due to the competition between different applications and networks, an intermediary organization, the National Organization for Hydrogen and Fuel cells (NOW GmbH), as well as the NOW advisory board were additionally created as elements of a new (field wide) governance structure (system resource).…”

“…Prior analyses have identified this field as highly dynamic [34][35][36] and demonstrated the importance of system building in this case [11]. In addition to that, agents of different technological applications (portable, stationary and mobile fuel cells) are currently competing for public support [11,37]. Trust, joint knowledge, power and reputation might be resources drawn on at the network level to develop the field.…”

Tentative governing of fuel cell innovation in a dynamic network of expectations

“…A budget of 1 billion EUR was assigned to the programme: 500 million EUR provided by the government and at least another 500 million EUR by industry (DIP, 2006c). Following the commitment of industry actors, it was agreed that the programme would be managed by a specifically established organization, the National Organization Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology GmbH (NOW), rather than by a policy agency, thus staying in close collaboration with key stakeholders (Expert 2; Expert 3; 8 Garche et al, 2009). The organization was supported by an advisory board with representatives of four ministries, the federal states, industry, and public research organizations.…”

“…In this period however, expectations that hydrogen and fuel cell technology would contribute to greenhouse gas emission reductions were frequently mentioned. According to industry experts involved in setting up the programme, this linking to current expectations in line with current policy priorities was actively sought, and the promise of being able to reduce households' CO 2 emissions by 30% using stationary fuel cells in small-scale CHP systems (micro CHP) was one of the main arguments convincing policymakers to authorize the support programme (Expert 2; Expert 3; Garche et al, 2009). In addition, this policy measure was facilitated by the change of government, which created an opportunity structure to position a proposal for a support programme, developed by a network of fuel cell actors.…”