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Hydrogenious supplies hydrogen filling station in Germany
The H2 filling stations that have been predominant up to now, supplied exclusively with compressed H2, have limited storage capacities and a high space requirement. This is smaller for liquid H2 refueling stations, but H2 losses occur during longer storage periods. A viable solution for the future on a small footprint and with particularly safe, simple handling of the H2 is now demonstrated by the world's first H2 filling station to additionally use LOHC technology, which was inaugurated with a ceremony on July 2.
This new station at Henri-Dunant-Strasse 2 in Erlangen, built and operated by H2 MOBILITY Germany, is supplied with H2 not only in gaseous form but also via liquid organic H2 carriers (LOHC) from Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies. The system of the LOHC market leader installed there in urban areas ensures the release of the gas molecules chemically bound in the LOHC. One of the compelling advantages of the H2 carrier material used in this process is benzyltoluene: Storage and stockpiling require only conventional underground tanks for liquid fuels, installed in a space saving manner directly buried beneath the release system.
The deployment of LOHC at the Erlangen H2 filling station is part of Hydrogenious' broader H2Sektor pilot project, which has received subsidies from the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy due to its innovativeness and relevance (duration 2020 - 2022): H2Sector involves the development and research of a complete LOHC-based chain from green H2 production to transport and precisely to the use of H2 for mobility. The starting points are the generation of solar power via a PV system and its conversion into green H2 via a PEM electrolyzer at Hydrogenious' headquarters in Erlangen. This is followed directly by H2 storage in the LOHC. A conventional tanker then transports the LOHC to the new Erlangen H2 filling station, where it is stored in underground tanks (30 m³ each), enabling H2 to be stocked in quantities of 1,500 kilograms. Such large H2 volumes in storage are not yet common at pressurized H2 refueling stations. Via its release system, which is connected to the underground tanks, Hydrogenious then ultimately provides green H2 with the highest degree of purity (according to the DIN EN 17124 or ISO 14687 standard) as a vehicle fuel.
The liquid organic material benzyltoluene utilized by Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies - well established in industry as a heat transfer medium - brings with it ideal properties for use as a H2 carrier: The potential hazard is very low, as it is flame retardant and non-explosive. It has a high volumetric energy density and can be handled like a fossil liquid fuel in existing infrastructure at ambient pressure and temperature. After dehydrogenation, it can be reused many hundreds of times to bind H2.
Dr Daniel Teichmann, CEO and founder of H2ious LOHC Technologies said, “With our LOHC-based solution, H2 refueling stations can be supplied with H2 easily, safely and in an area-optimized manner, especially in densely populated, urban areas. With the H2Sektor project, we are laying the foundation for large-scale H2 refueling stations, which are needed especially for commercial vehicles and the operators of large H2-based truck and bus fleets, thus supporting the decarbonization of the mobility sector. From the operation of the very first LOHC-supplied refueling station, we will gain valuable practical knowledge for the production, transport and supply of green H2 for mobility applications. Together with other H2 offtakers from industry and transport, the Erlangen filling station will become part of our transregional supply chain for green H2, which we are developing with European partners, for example, as part of the Important Projects of Common European Interest.“
Hubert Aiwanger, Bavarian State Minister for Economic Affairs, State Development and Energy and Deputy Minister President said, “The success of Bavarian energy research is coming to fruition today with the opening of the world's first H2 refueling station using the LOHC technology we are promoting, setting standards for the upcoming market ramp-up. Thanks to LOHC technology, H2 can now be stored on a significant scale without any problems and can also be used again. With this we have achieved a breakthrough.“
Lorenz Jung, Chief Commercial Officer, H2 MOBILITY Germany said, “We are pleased to be testing the innovative LOHC technology at our Erlangen H2 filling station, which offers H2 at two pressure levels - 350 bar for buses and commercial vehicles and 700 bar for H2 cars. H2 will play a significant role in decarbonization in transportation. Because whenever distance, time or payload weight play a role, H2 is the optimal solution.“
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