The Swedish region Västra Götaland gets its first hydrogen filling station
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.
Gothenburg, Sweden, December 8, 2014
For additional information please contact:
Birgitta Losman
Chairman of Regional Development, Region Västra Götaland
Tel: 0703-67 95 80
E-mail: [email protected]
Björn Aronsson
Executive Director, Hydrogen Sweden
Tel: +46 (0) 704 71 99 50, +46 (0) 31 334 37 73
E-mail: [email protected]
Magnus Henell
CEO, PowerCell Sweden AB (publ)
Phone: +46 739 10 37 03
Email: [email protected]
Further information about the project:
www.hit-2-corridors.eu
About Region Västra Götaland
Region Västra Götaland is responsible for health care, public transportation as well as to promote sustainable development and growth in the region. Region Västra Götaland does this for example by encouraging research and skills, entrepreneurship, enterprises, a rich cultural life and work for good communications.
Much of the work is done by cooperation with municipalities, government agencies, colleges, universities, companies and organizations. Region Västra Götaland is governed by the elected politicians, consisting of 49 municipalities with a total of approx. 1.6 million inhabitants.
For further information, please visit: www.vgregion.se
About Hydrogen Sweden
Hydrogen Sweden is a partnership that works to facilitate the introduction of hydrogen and fuel cells in society. Members and donors come from industry, institutions, municipalities, regions, national authorities and associations. Operations are conducted in the form of a non-profit organization and consist of a Board, a private office and one for around ten members.
Our view of the role of hydrogen as an energy carrier is balanced and long term. We see that hydrogen and fuel cell area is now developing very strongly and together with other energy technologies will enable future more sustainable and efficient energy supply.
Hydrogen Sweden acts as initiator, coordinator and multipliers. The transition to more sustainable energy solutions is a complex process and to get there we need to take many small steps, for example through demonstration projects. Hydrogen Sweden collaborates with actors from many different fields, in Sweden and abroad, to create positive synergies that accelerate this positive development. For further information, please visit: www.vatgas.se
About PowerCell
PowerCell is a leading energy technology company with a unique and patented technology for generating electricity from fuel cells in an efficient and environmentally friendly way. PowerCell develops and distributes advanced fuel cell systems for the transport industry, the telecommunication industry and the military sector.
PowerCell has developed fuel cell technology for more than a decade, and has perfected a unique design that enables the production of a lightweight, versatile and reliable power source for automotive, transport and stationary applications.
By combining their fuel cell- and reformer technology, PowerCell has developed a fuel cell system that converts diesel fuel to electricity in an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly manner, with minimal emissions and quiet operation. The fuel cell system is initially adapted to supply electric power to the telecom industry.
PowerCell is a spinout from the Volvo Group with the objective to develop and produce environmentally friendly power systems based on a unique fuel cell- and reformer technology that matches existing fuel infrastructures. PowerCell is based in Gothenburg and is owned by Volvo Group Venture Capital, Fouriertransform, Midroc New Technologies and Finindus.
For further information, please visit: www.PowerCell.se
Om PowerCell
PowerCell Sweden AB (publ) är Nordens ledande bränslecellsbolag, som utvecklar och producerar miljövänliga elkraftsystem för stationära och mobila kundapplikationer.