In Beijing yesterday China's first hydrogen refueling station and also BP's largest hydrogen transport project went into operation. Operated by BP and its partners it signals another step toward commercial application of hydrogen as an energy resource for fuel cell vehicles (FCVs).

Covering an area of 4,000 square meters the BP-branded hydrogen station will produce the fuel 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 vehicles. Instead of emitting greenhouse gases the fuel cells generate clean water and are therefore a much more ecologically friendly form of energy than petrol. For a large city like Beijing, where vehicle emissions are a major cause of pollution, fuel cells offer cleaner transport and an improved environment.

But the cost of producing the hydrogen fuel is two or three times that of gasoline and fuel cell vehicles could be as much as ten times more expensive than conventional transport, said Bill Fitzharris, BP’s general manager of 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.

He said the Chinese station, which currently uses transported hydrogen, would be able to turn natural gas into hydrogen on site next year.

Fitzharris said that instead of using natural gas, which is costly, the Beijing station would produce hydrogen from synthesis gas -- a combination of coal, oxygen and steam. This technology offered great prospects for China as the world largest coal producer, he observed.

China has been endeavoring to develop alternatives to gasoline to ensure that the country’s craze for vehicle ownership doesn’t seriously pollute air. Approximately 1,000 new vehicles take to the streets every day in Beijing alone.

The Beijing Hydrogen Park is China's first demonstration project for the new 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 these 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 constructed by Tsinghua University are currently being tested.

(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2006)