The role of hydrogen and fuel cells in the global energy system

Hydrogen technologies have experienced cycles of excessive expectations followed by disillusion. Nonetheless, a growing body of evidence suggests these technologies form an attractive option for the deep decarb onisation of global energy systems, and that recent improvements in their cost and performance point towards economic viability as well. This paper is a comprehensive review of the potential role that hydrogen could play in the provision of electricity, h eat, industry, transport and energy storage in a low - carbon energy system, and an assessment of the status of hydrogen in being able to fulfil that potential. The picture that emerges is one of qualified promise: hydrogen is well established in certain nic hes such as forklift trucks, while mainstream applications are now forthcoming. Hydrogen vehicles are available commercially in several countries, and 225,000 fuel cell home heating systems have been sold. This represents a step change from the situation of only five years ago. This review shows that challenges around cost and performance remain, and considerable improvements are still required for hydrogen to become truly competitive. But such competitiveness in the medium - term future no longer seems an unrealistic prospect, which fully justifies the growing interest and policy support for these technologies around the world

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Supplier-Oriented Upgrading in the Czech Motor Vehicle Industry

Rugraff E. Foreign direct investment (FDI) and supplier-oriented upgrading in the Czech motor vehicle industry, Regional Studies. The Czech Republic has succeeded in building a new comparative advantage in motor vehicle and motor component production. Yet, the Czech-owned companies only contribute weakly to the Czech upgrading. The Czech-owned companies are totally absent from first-tier suppliers and are only linked by casual technological relationships to foreign-owned multinational subsidiaries. This kind of relationship limits the vertical spillovers from foreign-owned multinational subsidiaries and is responsible for the existence of a weak link in the Czech automotive system that may foster the relocation of foreign-owned subsidiaries in foreign countries.Czech motor vehicle industry, Upgrading, Foreign direct investment (FDI), Indigenous firms,