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By March 2010, Air Products will install the first ever 24-hour self service hydrogen fuelling station in Hürth, Germany. The station will allow bus drivers to refuel their vehicles around the clock and for future use, Air Products will design and incorporate the safety systems to allow it to be used more broadly for hydrogen vehicles, 24 hours a day.

The intent is to normalize a hydrogen fueling station with other stations that sell gasoline or diesel fuel.  By 2015, Germany intends to have 1,000 hydrogen fueling station spread throughout the country. The region offers ideal conditions for developing hydrogen infrastructure as seven local industrial plants produce hydrogen as a by-product Just 8% of the hydrogen by-product generated by the industrial plants could operate more than 500 buses or 40,000 cars full time.

“Until now hydrogen fuelling stations have been unique, custom-made installations which have a high price. We aim, where appropriate, to commence cost-effective series production across all our markets on the basis of the Hürth fuelling system and thereby eliminate one of the main obstacles to a universal roll out of hydrogen infrastructure.” said Ian Williamson, Hydrogen Energy Systems Director Air Products Europe. Crucially, the modular fuelling system means that it is now possible to supply fuelling stations with hydrogen not only from a tanker, but also, at a later date, by pipeline.

Air Products is now looking to introduce this technology to the UK: “We are now looking to work with several local authorities in the UK who would like to take advantage of this modular technology. The Hürth project is a glimpse of what we can help councils to achieve here if they are willing to make the investment.” added Diana Raine, Hydrogen Energy Systems Sales Manager, Air Products.

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