Dec 8 2014
In 2015, a stationary filling station for hydrogen vehicles will be built in the Swedish Västra Götaland region. Hydrogen Sweden participates with leading Nordic cleantech companies in the fuel cell technology, PowerCell Sweden AB and Oy Woikoski, in the project co-funded by Region Västra Götaland and the EU. The filling station will be open to the public and placed next to PowerCell Sweden’s premises in Biskopsgården. Gothenburg.
Hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources is a fossil-free vehicle fuel. A fuel cell vehicle is powered by electricity and emits only water caused by a chemical reaction in the fuel cell. Most leading vehicle manufacturers have recently announced that they are investing in this technology and the first cars are now being launched in the market. A fuel cell is always combined with a battery in the vehicles and in some cases, the fuel cell can be smaller and serve as a so-called range extender for hybrid electric cars, buses and light trucks in city traffic, where zero emission vehicles are an important step towards a better environment.
“Hydrogen is part of Region Västra Götaland's work for sustainable transportation. As a region, we want to help create more jobs while reducing the environmental impact,” said Regional Development Chairman Birgitta Losman. “The aim of the project is to invest in a basic infrastructure for hydrogen vehicles that makes it possible to create development in hydrogen vehicles and fuel cell technology in the Västra Götaland region.”
“Hydrogen Sweden strives to put hydrogen on the national agenda to meet the EU directives on more environmentally friendly alternative fuels,” said Björn Aronsson, Executive Director, Hydrogen Sweden.” The filling station in Gothenburg makes it possible to link the route between Oslo, Norway and Malmö, southern Sweden, where stations already exist.”
Sweco, offering qualified services in the fields of consulting engineering, environmental technology and architecture, initiated the project with partners in Finland, Latvia, Poland, the Netherlands and Belgium and is now coordinating the project. Hydrogen Sweden manages the project in western Sweden and is responsible for communicating and coordinating the establishment of the filling station. Gas technology company Oy Woikoski builds and co-finances the filling station. Fuel cell technology company PowerCell Sweden supports with operational expertise. The filling station is financed by Region Västra Götaland, the EU TEN-T and Oy Woikoski (filling station equipment). The EU's TEN-T's program aims to create transportation corridors with alternative green fuels throughout Europe.
“A central resource in the project will be PowerCell's laboratory for fuel cells, which we use for demonstration of hydrogen cars and for testing of fuel cell technology in vehicles”, said Magnus Henell, CEO, PowerCell Sweden.
The station makes it possible to test fuel cell vehicles in the Västa Götaland region and also to motivate companies and the public organizations operating in the station's proximity to start using these types of vehicles. The station can be used to evaluate the efficiency and the development of vehicles that reach the market by 2015. It is also a hub for new collaboration on hydrogen.
Development participants that are expected to be able to use the station for development and testing are Chalmers, SP, PowerCell Sweden and vehicle manufacturers. Possible future local users of hydrogen vehicles are Gatubolaget, SDN Västra Hisingen as well as taxi companies and logistical companies.
Source: http://www.powercell.se/