Region roadmap

For the first decades, all roadmaps show a focus on fossil-based hydrogen production options, mainly onsite and decentral steam methane reformers (SMR), electro-lysers and hydrogen as a by-product from the chemical industry. In some regions, hydrogen is also produced to a certain extend by nuclear, electrolysis, biomass and waste gasification. Later on, with a significant increase of hydrogen, the production... 

The roadmap has been intentionally represented in terms of prices, because that is what is perceived by the public. This obviously means the expected costs are much lower. If this is the case, the period 2010-20 is when PV electricity will be competitive with retail prices from the grid (starting from the sunniest regions) and peak load generation. Later, the electricity can be competitive at the wholesale level, that is, with all conventional electricity production today. 

The committee cautioned that the report offers a strategic framework and blueprint for change, not an immediate roadmap or next steps plan. The third recommendation called for a public process of stakeholder deliberations to explore the full implications of the proposal and address technical design issues. The lOM recommended that the National Vaccine Program Office (NVAC) of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control convene a series of regional and national meetings with the major stakeholders and others to rehne the recommendations and develop plans for implementation. 

In both regions, the vision and roadmap documents stress an integral and connected approach for research and development, but are less clear about market development. The European Union did not address market issues early on, although a May 2003 EU directive does promote alternative fuels for transport (European Commission, 2003). That directive is planned to be a stepping-stone aimed to stimulate a market pull for alternative fuels. The U.S. implementation programs address market issues, but actual policies and programs have not been proposed. My preliminary characterization of the U.S. implementation plans would be high priority for research and development and low priority for market development. 

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on A Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe, COM(2011) 571 Final, Official Journal of the European Union, Cl 81, 21 June 2012, p.l63. 

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