30 Jun 2009 |
Grontmij Industry member of VSWB
On 30 June 2009, Grontmij Industry became a member of the Vlaams Samenwerkingsverband Waterstof en Brandstofcellen vzw (Flemish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Partnership) or VSWB. This association's mission is to promote and support the introduction and application of fuel cell and hydrogen technology in its various areas of use. After all, hydrogen is seen as one of the main energy carriers of the future. The use of hydrogen will greatly reduce the emission of hazardous substances.
VSWB vzw has the support of the Flemish government in the scope of the Thematic Innovation Stimulation (TIS) project from the IWT (Institute for Encouraging Innovation through Science and Technology in Flanders). As a member, Grontmij Industry endorses the association's objectives:
- to gather and distribute information on fuel cell technology
- to set up innovative projects around fuel cell technology, and to supervise innovative and test projects
- to implement activities which may contribute to fuel cell technology directly or indirectly
- to raise awareness and develop technicians and decision-makers
- to be the government's conversation partner for policy support advice.
With the "Flanders-Southern Netherlands Hydrogen Region" project, recently approved and partly subsidised by the Flemish government, the VSWB aims to connect with the European vision of the future with already-elaborated implementation processes. The objectives of this three-year project are: to realise demonstration projects throughout the chain of hydrogen production up to the end use by regional industry; the expansion of an educational programme with the aim of developing talent in the hydrogen field; and anchoring knowledge in a WaterstofNet vzw (under development). This will be a project agency which will coordinate the initiatives of industry and research institutions. The aim is to play an important and leading role within Europe in the development and application of hydrogen technology.
Due to its membership of VSWB, Grontmij Industry can stay involved in developments in the field of hydrogen technology. A large number of players in the chemical industry are also involved in the association's operations thereby creating a network which contributes to innovation and knowledge sharing. Grontmij Industry was already involved in fuel cell technology in 2004. On behalf of VITO (also a member, and a leader within the VSWB) Grontmij Industry performed a HAZOP study for a test infrastructure for fuel cells.