The Icelandic hydrogen project began in February 1999 when an Icelandic consortium, Vistorka hf (EcoEnergy Ltd.) signed a Cooperation Agreement with DaimlerChrysler, Norsk Hydro and Royal Dutch/Shell setting up a joint venture to investigate the possibility of replacing fossil fuel in Iceland with hydrogen and creating a “hydrogen economy”. The aim of the joint venture company, originally called “the Icelandic Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Company”, now Icelandic New Energy Ltd, was to test various applications utilising hydrogen fuel cells or hydrogen energy carriers.
In March 2001, Icelandic New Energy presented a six-phase plan for the introduction of a hydrogen economy in Iceland. Exactly how and when each phase will take place is now under discussion. The phases include:
1. A demonstration and evaluation project of operating hydrogen infrastructure and fuel cell buses in Reykjavik. This phase is known as ECTOS, an acronym formed from the name of the project (Ecological City Transport System), which was introduced on 2 March 2001 at a conference in Reykjavik. The key elements of the project are to integrate an on-site infrastructure in the city of Reykjavík (2001), to operate three hydrogen fuel-cell buses in Reykjavík (2002-2004) and to carry out socio-economic studies parallel with the project (2001-2005).
2. Gradual replacement of the Reykjavik city bus fleet, and possibly other bus fleets, with buses powered by fuel cells.
3. Introduction of “hydrogen based” fuel-cell private cars.
4. Fuel-cell vessel demonstration and evaluation project
5. Gradual replacement of fossil fuels in the fishing fleet by fuel-cell powered vessels.
6. Export of hydrogen from Iceland to Europe. Icelandic New Energy is preparing for Phase 4, powering vessels with hydrogen, and investigating the possibility of exporting hydrogen to the European mainland.

For further information:
Julian Scola, Press Officer, WWF European Policy Office, tel +32 2 743 8806, jscola@wwfeop.org
or Giulio Volpi, tel +32 2 743 8818, gvolpi@wwfepo.org

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