The project, managed by National R&D Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies ICIT Rm. Valcea, is networking nine R&D organizations acting in the area of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in Romania, in order to develop the Romanian capabilities in this domain and to reach the level permitting the connection with the European H&FC Platform. The project is of Support Actions type.

Overview of the RHFP

The project target is to create a national R&D platform for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells.

Objectives:

• to ascertain the scientific and technological capabilities of the partners involved in the H&FC field;
• to determine the directions of the future development in this field, in connection with the European strategy;
• to increase the national H&FC platform scientific and technological capabilities in hydrogen and fuel cells technology;
• to increase the national and European platform visibility.

We estimate that all the proposed objectives will highly improve the professional and communication opportunities of the researchers, the quality of the technological equipments of the platform, and strengthen the importance of the platform at regional level and in the European framework of research centers in hydrogen and fuel cells domain.

The project is evolving a period of one year, from December 2004 to December 2005, and its scope is to support the R&D lines in the H&FC field, which were already started by the partners:

• Hydrogen production via reforming;
• Hydrogen storage on metal hydrides;
• Hydrogen purification;
• Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell;
• Solid Oxide Fuel Cell.

The first stage of the project ascertained the scientific and technological capabilities of the partners in the mentioned R&D lines and outlined their needs in order to connect their activity with the European efforts and achievements in this field.
The second stage of the project will increase the technological capabilities of the partners by renewing and up-grading their S&T equipments.
The third stage of the project deals with:

• Consolidation and improvement of the professional skills and communication opportunities offered to the researchers by:
  • training programs;
  • workshops.
• Increasing the national and European platform visibility by:
  • preparing the project website under present ICIT web portal;
  • creating a database covering the Hydrogen & Fuel Cells related organisations in Romania.

The financial support, of 325,000 euro, is provided by the Ministry of Education and Research 250,000 euro, and by the partners themselves 75,000 euro.