Parliamentary Secretary of State to the Federal Transport Minister, Katherina Reiche, on May 23, 2014 refuelled a fuel cell vehicle for the first time at the “Green Hydrogen Hub” (H2BER) of the TOTAL multi-energy fuelling station at Berlin-Schoenefeld. Hydrogen (H2). Hydrogen produced from wind power and solar energy supporting cross-system networking of renewable energy from the electricity, heating and gas markets to the transport sector. Several application areas which are usually separate use CO2-neutral hydrogen as an energy source at H2BER. For the first time, energy generated from wind and sun is being put to use across the electricity, heating and transport sectors. The project partners are generating the “green” hydrogen on-site via electrolysis. In addition to servicing emission-free fuel cell vehicles, the operation of a block heat power plant with regeneratively produced hydrogen and its supply into the public gas network are also foreseen. The project therefore offers an opportunity to conduct research into the energy revolution as a single system. By 2016, the H2BER partner companies will invest more than 10 million Euros. 50% of this sum again will be provided in public funds from the federal government, coordinated by the National Organisation of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology. At the project launch organised by the partner companies, Katherina Reiche, Parliamentary Secretary of State to the Federal Minister for Transport and Digital Infrastructure, said:
In the context of a collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Transport and the industry, the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP), which is Europe’s largest demonstration project for hydrogen and cell fuel technology, a network of 50 H2 stations will be created by the end of 2015.
H2BER’s operating principle is based on applying hydrogen as an energy source produced using wind power and solar energy. The electricity required for this purpose will be provided by a nearby wind park. H2 production at high wind speeds will also be tested and observed by scientists in a dedicated research campus. TOTAL is also integrating into the electricity system a solar installation on the station’s roof, developed by its photovoltaic daughter company SunPower.
The CO2-neutral hydrogen will be produced on site in a McPhy 45-bar pressure electrolyser, which will be operated by ENERTRAG. With a capacity of 500 kW, the application-optimised and extendable alkali electrolyser can produce more than 200 kg of hydrogen per day. That is enough to H2-refuel around 50 fuel cell vehicles.
More than 50 cars and buses in Berlin are already fuelled with hydrogen in the context of the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP). The CEP is the largest demonstration project for H2 mobility in Europe and a flagship project of the National Innovation Programme for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology in the transport sector. With the support of the Federal Government, alongside the production, transport and storage of hydrogen, its application in fuel cell vehicles and H2 refuelling technology are also being tested.
The TOTAL multi-energy fuelling station today offers all energy sources for the most diverse forms of mobility. These include traditional quality fuels based on petroleum products, which will continue to be a supporting pillar of the transport sector in the future. Alongside “green” hydrogen, natural gas (CNG) and liquid gas (LPG) complete the station’s fuel offering. The multi-energy provision at H2BER is completed by two fuelling points located at a quick refuelling pump (with direct current in line with the Combined Charging System – CCS) for battery-powered electric vehicles. For more information click here.