China's first hydrogen refueling station went into operation
Wednesday at a suburban high-tech industrial base on the outskirts
of Beijing.
The station, in the Beijing Hydrogen Park opened the same day,
is the largest hydrogen station operated by world energy giant
BP.
Covering an area of 4,000 square meters, the BP-branded hydrogen
refueling station will produce hydrogen from renewable
energies.
BP has invested a total of US$3.5 million in the Sino-British
joint venture. The Chinese partner, SinoHytec, an enterprise linked
to Tsinghua University, provided the land required for the
project.
Fuel cells that generate electricity from hydrogen are an
alternative to petroleum for the world's vehicles.
Instead of belching out greenhouse gases, fuel cells generate
clean water and so are a much more ecological form of energy than
petrol. For a city like Beijing, where vehicle emissions are a
major cause of airborne pollution, fuel cells offer hope of cleaner
transport and a cleaner environment.
But the cost of producing hydrogen is two or three times the
cost of producing gasoline and fuel cell vehicles ten times more
expensive than conventional gasoline fuelled vehicles, said Bill
Fitzharris, general manager of BP hydrogen transport
technology.
Fitzharris predicted that mass production of fuel cell vehicles
and the development of commercial hydrogen refueling stations would
not happen before 2015 or 2020.
The Chinese station, which currently uses transported hydrogen,
will be able to turn natural gas into hydrogen on site next year,
said Bill.
Fitzharris said that instead of using natural gas, which is
relatively costly, the Beijing station will produce hydrogen from
synthesis gas -- a combination of coal, oxygen and steam. This
technology offers great prospects for China, the world largest coal
producer.
China has been endeavoring to develop alternatives to gasoline
to ensure that its craze for vehicle ownership does not seriously
damage city air. 1000 new vehicles take to the streets every day in
the nation's capital alone.
The Beijing Hydrogen Park is China's first demonstration project
for new energy vehicles.
The park, which comprises a research and development center, a
hydrogen refueling station, a fuel cell vehicle garage and a
maintenance workshop, will provide critical experience in the
infrastructure needed to operate hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. It
will handle several international trial programs and also fuel the
hydrogen vehicle fleet for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Three Daimler-Chrysler made fuel cell buses went into trial
operation in Beijing in June and five vehicles made by Tsinghua
University are currently being tested.
(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2006)