Hydrogen Fueling Expands in the U.K.

New station is ITM Power’s first publically accessible hydrogen refueling station.

September 21, 2015

LONDON – ITM Power announced the launch of its first public access hydrogen refueling station last week at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in South Yorkshire.

Launch of the new station is supported by Hyundai, Toyota and Honda, which will all display their fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV). The public access refueling station is the first of its kind in the United Kingdom and consists of a 225kW wind turbine coupled directly to an electrolyzer, 220kg of hydrogen storage, a hydrogen dispensing unit and a 30kW fuel cell system capable of providing backup power generation for nearby buildings.

The station is offering hydrogen gas at 350bar, which was a specification of the Island Hydrogen (formally known as Eco Island) project. The station will be upgraded in early 2016 to provide hydrogen at 700bar as a result of funding from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV). This will provide the fuel cell vehicles with a longer range of between 350–400 miles and extend the reach of clean emission transportation in South Yorkshire to hydrogen refueling stations elsewhere in the U.K., including London.

Jon Hunt, manager of Toyota & Lexus Fleet Marketing, Toyota (GB) PLC, said the automaker is launching into the U.K. its new Mirai in October, the world’s first dedicated mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.

Tony Whitehorn, CEO of Hyundai Motor UK, commented: “It is very encouraging indeed that the U.K.’s hydrogen filling station infrastructure is developing. We welcome this ultra-green new site in the north of England, which will serve a very large area and is clearly one of the most advanced sites ever constructed. Hydrogen-powered cars are the future and Hyundai is a leader in the field. This new self-sufficient filling station is exactly what’s needed.”

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