England opens its first hydrogen gas station

University of Birmingham claims new refuelling station represents first step along the road to a hydrogen-powered highway

The University of Birmingham today unveiled England's first hydrogen gas fuelling station in a move researchers said could prove a fore runner for a nationwide network of hydrogen refuelling stations.

The new fuelling station has been installed by the university's Department of Chemical Engineering and will be used to power its fleet of five hydrogen fuel cell-powered test vehicles.

The fuelling station has been provided by hydrogen developer Air Products and has an integrated compression, hydrogen storage and dispensing system, capable of refuelling up to about six vehicles per day. Meanwhile, the hydrogen itself will be provided by Green Gases Ltd, which manufactures the gas using renewable biomass energy, an approach the university claims will ensure that both the manufacturing process and use of the fuel cells will result in no carbon emissions.

Dr Bruno Pollet of the university's fuel cell group said that alongside work to enhance the efficiency of its hydrogen-powered vehicles, the next stage of the research project will include work to develop hydrogen onsite using renewable energy. "We are looking at ways to power the electrolysis process using photovoltaics or an onsite wind mill," he said.

The university said that the new station will prove the first of many as the UK moves towards building a hydrogen infrastructure. "The power density of fuel cells is much greater than that of batteries and the environmental impact of the fuel cell is much less than that of a Lithium-ion battery," argued Pollet. "The only downside has been access to hydrogen but there is scope over the next five years for the UK to begin to develop the required infrastructure – and this is the first step."

London's first hydrogen fuel station is expected to open next year as part of a £22m Transport for London initiative to trial fuel cell-powered buses and other public sector vehicles.

Meanwhile, car manufacturers have been lobbying politicians on both sides of the Atlantic for investment in a hydrogen infrastructure, claiming that the development of a network of fuelling stations would allow them to turn their numerous fuel cell-powered concept cars into a reality.