General Background and Achievements of this Task

Abstract

Thank you Mr. Chairman. Ladies and Gentlemen, as you know the thermochemical production of hydrogen is a very good subject of discussion and exchange of opinions. I have now to limit myself to give an introduction on what is the present work in the frame of the indirect action of the European Community programme and giving the background of the state of the art of the evolution of the research. It is in any case useful to go back to the origin of the decision of the European Community programme: the Commission proposed this action, at the beginning of the research in this completely new field, in order to supplement the direct action (research performed in the Joint Research Centre of the E.C.) also with an indirect action involving industries in a field where the researches are very pioneering and for long-term applications.