A Milestone Eclipsed: Air Products Surpasses 50,000th Hydrogen Fueling
By way of cars, trucks, vans, buses, scooters, forklifts and even submarines, Air Products, the global leader in hydrogen fueling infrastructure and technology, surpassed a milestone when it completed its 50,000th hydrogen fill. Fueling hydrogen powered transportation vehicles and other varied applications in 14 countries, this trend-setting technology involving Air Products know-how, equipment, and hydrogen continues to be increasingly used at a pace of approximately 2,000 hydrogen fills per month.
“The technology and varied applications for the use of hydrogen continue to develop and grow,” said Tom Mutchler, general manager – Worldwide Equipment for Air Products. “It has been exciting to be part of this forward-moving market. Part of the reward has been seeing the commitment of major automobile manufacturers. At the same time, we have participated in diverse hydrogen energy projects with start-up companies, universities, and public sector agencies. We are currently working with several entities to advance generation of renewable hydrogen. For those who care to look into the facts, hydrogen will benefit the environment for use in numerous applications and we are particularly excited about off road vehicle activity. The economics of hydrogen are also becoming very compelling.”
Air Products, the leading supplier of merchant hydrogen to the refinery industry to assist in the making of cleaner burning transportation fuels, has placed a majority of its hydrogen fueling station technology in 17 states within the United States. On a global basis, Air Products’ has installed hydrogen fueling technology in Canada, China, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. In all, over 80 hydrogen fueling stations worldwide have been placed into service by Air Products.
Air Products has provided both liquid and gaseous hydrogen fueling at varied pressures including 700 bar (10,000 psi) at numerous locations. At most fueling stations, the hydrogen is delivered to the site via truck. At some stations the hydrogen has been generated by on-site natural gas reformation, as well as through electrolysis, wind and solar means. Air Products hydrogen fueling technology, both its permanent hydrogen fueling stations and its mobile hydrogen fueler, have been involved with multiple noteworthy projects.
Beyond transportation applications, Air Products has been involved in other interesting projects involving hydrogen as an energy carrier. Air Products has provided hydrogen for efforts ranging from the world’s first fuel cell powered lighthouse at Wilton on Teeside, United Kingdom, to festive lights on holiday trees in Washington, DC and Sacramento, Calif., to hydrogen fuel cell powered cellular phone towers in several European Union countries.
Air Products has more than 50 years of hydrogen experience and is on the forefront of hydrogen energy technology development. Air Products is a leader in the development of the hydrogen infrastructure necessary to fuel hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen internal combustion engine, and HCNG (hydrogen/compressed natural gas) vehicles. Air Products has an extensive patent portfolio with over 50 patents in hydrogen dispensing technology. More information on Air Products’ hydrogen fueling station technologies and activities can be found at http://www.airproducts.com/h2energy.