Linde : 23.05.2014 / Corporate News Go ahead for the energy turnaround in Germany: Secretary of State Reiche opens hydrogen station at Berlin-Schönefeld

• Over EUR 10 m total investment by the project partners TOTAL Deutschland GmbH, Linde AG, McPhy S.A., ENERTRAG AG and 2G Energy AG 
• EUR 5 m of public funding in the "50 fuelling stations programme" launched by the Federal Ministry of Transport in collaboration with the industry 
• Regionally-produced "green" hydrogen as key technology of the German 'Energiewende'

Berlin/Munich, 23 May 2014 - The Parliamentary Secretary of State to the Federal Transport Minister, Katherina Reiche, refuelled a fuel cell vehicle for the first time at the "Green Hydrogen Hub" (H2BER) of the TOTAL multi-energy fuelling station at Berlin-Schönefeld. Hydrogen (H2) produced from wind power and solar energy supports cross-system networking of renewable energy from the electricity, heating and gas markets right through 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 sustainably 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 turnaround as a complete system. By 2016, the H2BER partner companies will invest more than EUR 10 m. 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: "Electro-mobility with hydrogen and fuel cells is moving forward! In the National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Innovation Programme we have set an important focus. After seven years of research and development, applications in the transport sector are extensively suitable for everyday use and technologically market-ready - which is a remarkable achievement! It is now a matter of introducing this technology to the market, which we will continue to support with suitable measures. A basic requirement for this is to build a network of fuelling stations covering the most significant population areas and connecting them with each other. In the context of our fuelling station programme we will build hydrogen stations on 50 sites by the end of next year, so that precisely such a network is established across Germany. I am not only very pleased that another station has been added to the network today, but also that regionally-produced wind and solar energy is being used flexibly in this showcase project."

The plan to expand the German H2 station network was agreed between the Federal Ministry of Transport and the industry, associated in the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP), Europe's largest demonstration project for hydrogen and cell fuel technology.

H2BER's operating principle is based on applying hydrogen as an energy source produced from 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 refuel around 50 fuel cell vehicles.

McPhy operates an innovative solid-state storage system with a capacity of 100 kg. Thus, the H2 specialist is adding an innovative and energy-efficient technology alternative, which is aligned to a fluctuating H2 production, and complements the on-site compressed gaseous storage.

Linde is responsible for the whole hydrogen handling process from production in the electrolyser to the dispenser. This process includes storing the gaseous H2 in a 45 bar high-level tank, its compression to 900 bar, subsequent high pressure storage and refuelling of cars and buses. The gases specialist also supplies industrial clients with a part of the hydrogen produced on-site.

2G has installed a block heat power plant which is operated using the CO2-neutral energy sources and can convert the "green" hydrogen into electricity and heat. The power plant can alternatively be operated with natural gas (10% organic) and supplies all of the fuelling station buildings from the H2BER control room and the convenience shop to the car wash.

TOTAL operates two H2 dispensers at the site, one for cars and one for buses. The advantages of H2 mobility include short refuelling times, high range and emission-free usage. Vehicles with fuel cells are driven by electricity, without developing any emissions except for pure water vapour. The transport sector, which produces around 20% of the CO2 emissions in Germany, could use sustainable hydrogen to reduce its CO2 footprint.

More than 50 cars and buses in Berlin already run on hydrogen, operated by the CEP. It 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 offers all energy sources for the most diverse forms of mobility. These include conventional 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 offer at H2BER is completed by two quick recharge places (with direct current in line with the Combined Charging System - CCS) for battery-powered electric vehicles.

In the 2013 financial year, The Linde Group generated revenue of EUR 16.655 bn, making it the largest gases and engineering company in the world with approximately 63,500 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment - in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. The company is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.

Under the "Clean Technology by Linde" label, the company offers a wide range of products and technologies that help to render renewable energy sources financially viable, and significantly slow down the depletion of fossil resources or reduce the level of CO2 emitted. This ranges from specialty gases for solar module manufacturing, industrial-scale CO2 separation and application technologies to alternative fuels and energy carriers such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and hydrogen.

For more information go to http://www.linde.com/cleantechnology.

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