Risø DTU and its partner, the Danish Gas Technology Center (DGC), are receiving support from the Danish Programme for Energy Technology Development and Demonstration (EUDP) to set up the new center. The initial two-year EUDP project to establish the center will run to December 2011, with further development anticipated through to about 2015.

The project also includes the starting up of its first activities, under project manager Anke Hagen. These will focus on the development of accelerated lifetime testing of fuel cell systems, preparations for standardization of these methods, and advising in relation to certification and approval of fuel cell systems. They will be carried out at Risø DTU and DGC in close cooperation with industry, specifically Topsoe Fuel Cell.

Danish industrial players have expressed a strong need for support in the process to push fuel cell and hydrogen technologies from the research and development stage into the commercial domain.

The ultimate goal for the center is to become an accepted ‘one-stop shop’ for all services in relation to fuel cell and hydrogen technologies. These activities will be shared between the partners in the center. For example, Risø DTU will carry out advanced testing and microscopy, while DGC will be active in standardization and approval.