Roads2HyCom (R2H) is an Integrated Project supported by the European Commission’s Framework Program Six (FP6), Priority 6.1 “Sustainable Development, Global Change and Ecosystems”.

The project Roads2HyCom is supporting the European Commission, HFP/JTI, HyRaMP and other stakeholders planning future fuel cell and hydrogen activities. The support is provided through a growing portfolio of resources that include web-based tools, handbooks, training workshops and reports. These resources can be accessed through this website.

Roads2HyCom has considered the whole energy chain, from how hydrogen is produced through distribution and storage of the energy vector to using it in a transport, stationary or portable application. The project has mapped the state of the art of hydrogen related technologies, hydrogen infrastructure and the needs of early adopters (called "hydrogen communities"). Currently Roads2HyCom is working on developing technology pathways, analysing the gaps and opportunities for fuel cell and hydrogen technologies and developing a strategy for future RTD activities, in addition to engaging with community stakeholders.

The project brings together 29 partners from a broad cross-section of areas including energy and hydrogen supply, transport industries (surface and air), stationary power (buildings, industry), engineering and socio-economic research and community expertise.

Road2HyCom has:

			Mapped the extent of European research in Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, including research outside the Framework programmes
			Assessed the state-of-the-art of technologies against a number of criteria, in order to profile technology capability
			Assessed the extent, capacity and economics of current and future Hydrogen production and distribution infrastructures, and renewable or carbon free resources that could be used to make Hydrogen as an energy vector
			Developed generic profiles for types of potential “hydrogen community” that could (with the right incentives) become early adopters of the new technologies, perhaps building on existing Hydrogen / Fuel Cell demonstration projects

Road2HyCom is:

			Analysing evolutionary pathways by which current mainstream technologies and infrastructures can evolve towards the needs of a sustainable future
			Identifying gaps and opportunities in technologies and infrastructure, and related economic issues
			Contributing to the engagement and planning of early-adopting Hydrogen Communities by providing information to the Commission and Stakeholders

Roads2HyCom is structured to run alongside the linked HyLights co-ordination action, which addresses transport demonstration projects. Both projects will in turn use strategic and technical outputs of other EC funded projects, and the strategic activities of the Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Technology Platform, to support this work. In addition, key stakeholders are invited to contribute to the project via “reference groups”.