Different concepts for refuelling infrastructure exist that are suitable for different levels of hydrogen demand, from refuelling a single car to large refilling stations able to refuel multiple cars and buses on a daily basis. All hydrogen refuelling stations include the following basic components:
Aberdeen, Scotland
Project: Hytransit/HighVLOcity
Technology: Electrolyser on-site
Refuelling station operator: BOC, Linde Group
Technology Provider: BOC, Linde Group
Hydrogen storage: 420 kg
Fuel pressure: 350 bar
Hydrogen supply: there are two options for hydrogen supply – it can be delivered to the site or it can be generated on-site.
Hydrogen storage: if hydrogen is delivered as a liquid, a cryogenic storage vessel will be required on the site to maintain the temperature in the liquid range (hydrogen has to be cooled down to -253°C). Hydrogen will be decanted from a tanker truck into the storage vessel.
Water electrolysis comprises the splitting of water molecules into their constituent parts (H2 and O2) by passage of an electrical current.
There are two main electrolyser technologies – alkaline, which contain liquid electrolytes (potassium or sodium hydroxide), and solid polymer electrolyte electrolysers (PEM).
Antwerp, Belgium
Project: HighVLOcity
Technology: By-product/hydrogen pipeline
Refuelling station operator: Solvay
Technology Provider: H2 Logic
Hydrogen storage: 200 kg
Fuel pressure: 350 bar
The vast majority of hydrogen produced worldwide is generated by a process of breaking up hydrocarbon molecules into H2 and CO – this process is called reformation. Reformation is performed on an industrial scale, typically using natural gas (methane, CH4) as a feedstock.
Bolzano, Italy
Project: CHIC
Technology: Electrolyser on-site
Refuelling station operator: IIT
Technology Provider: BLine
Hydrogen storage: 250 kg
Fuel pressure: 350 & 700 bar
In some specific cases, a hydrogen refuelling station is located nearby or on top of a hydrogen pipeline. In that case, the hydrogen only needs to be compressed, cooled and dispensed. For example in Belgium and a part of the Netherlands a hydrogen-pipeline network, operated by Air Liquide, exists with total length of about 900 kms, running from Rotterdam (NL) via Antwerp (B) to Dunkerque (F).
Brügg, Switzerland
Project: CHIC
Technology: Electrolyser on-site
Refuelling station operator: Air Liquide
Technology Provider: Air Liquide
Hydrogen storage: 450 kg
Fuel pressure: 350 ba
Several electrochemical processes in industry, such as the production of chlorine, produce hydrogen as a “waste” or by- product . This by-product is a very clean A-Grade product that is very well suited for fuel cell vehicles and applications. The scale of these industrial sites is usually very large, resulting in high volumes of hydrogen.
Hamburg, Germany
Project: CHIC
Technology: 50% Electrolyser on-site / 50% by-product tube trailer
Refuelling station operator: Vattenfall
Technology Provider: Linde
Hydrogen storage: 250 kg
Fuel pressure: 350 & 700 bar
Compressed hydrogen is delivered in a variety of containers, depending on the quantity of hydrogen required.
Project: HighVLOCity
Technology: By-product Hydrogen
Refuelling station operator: PitPoint
Technology Provider: PitPoint
Fuel pressure: 350 bar
Liquefaction of hydrogen requires cooling to a temperature of -253 °C and subsequent storage in cryogenic containers. Liquefaction is an energy intensive process and can consume up to 35% of the energy in the stored hydrogen.
Hürt, Cologne Region, Germany
Project: HyCologne
Technology: Electrolyser on-site
Refuelling station operator: Stadtwerke Hürth
Technology Provider: Air Products
Hydrogen storage: 180 kg
Fuel pressure: 350 bar
Karlsruhe, Germany
Project: KIT
Technology: By-product/tubetrailer
Refuelling station operator: Air Liquide
Technology Provider: Air Liquide
Hydrogen storage: 100 kg
Fuel pressure: 350 & 700 bar
London, UK
Project: CHIC
Technology: Methane, tubetrailers
Refuelling station operator: Air Products
Technology Provider: Air Products
Hydrogen storage: 180 kg
Fuel pressure: 350 bar
Milan, Italy
Project: CHIC
Technology: Electrolyser on-site
Refuelling station operator: Linde
Technology Provider: Linde
Hydrogen storage: 320 kg
Fuel pressure: 350 ba
Oslo, Norway
Project: CHIC
Technology: Electrolyser on-site
Refuelling station operator: Air Liquide
Technology Provider: Air Liquide
Hydrogen storage: 321 kg
Fuel pressure: 350 ba
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Project: TEN-T and 3Emotion
Technology: Hydrogen pipeline
Refuelling station operator: Air Liquide
Technology Provider: Air Liquide
