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.
GM backs bioethanol as Toyota talks up hybrid plans 14 Jan 2008
Air Resources Board invites applications for funding from firms planning to expand the state's embryonic hydrogen refuelling infrastructure 17 Apr 2008The UK government's chief scientific adviser has joined green lobby groups in asking for ethanol fuel targets to be reconsidered 25 Mar 2008Car makers Ford, GM and Daimler have unveiled new green models and promise plenty more to come 15 Nov 2007
Technology could cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent 18 May 2007
Building giant details plans to develop three more commercially viable zero carbon homes over next three years 16 May 2008
Toyota claims the iconic hybrid vehicle has helped cut global carbon emissions by approximately 4.5m tonnes in the last decade 16 May 2008
More news
After two decades of development countless nanotechnologies are fast approaching commercial viability – and they have the potential to redefine the clean tech sector 16 May 2008
Green business courses are springing up think and fast, but as Vanessa Crossgrove Fry warns it could still be several years before we see Green MBAs take their place in the largest firms 14 May 2008 More in-depth
Post your comment
Send an email to the Business Green editor at feedback@businessgreen.com
