The EUHYFIS Concept

EUHYFIS is the abbreviation for EUropean HYdrogen FIlling Station. This project aims at providing a hydrogen infrastructure for road vehicles. The fuel is generated decentrally on site of the station, preferably relying on electricity from renewable energies. In case renewable sources are employed, the hydrogen can be regarded as a green energy carrier since it displays an emission balance by far superior to that of conventional fuels.

EUHYFIS offers a filling station for compressed gaseous hydrogen that follows a modular approach in order to be easily

	follows a modular approach in order to be easily adapted to the customer's choice of production rates
	requires moderate investment
	is designed for robustness towards power input fluctuations induced for instance by renewable energy sources
	employs high-efficiency components
	has distinct environmental advantages.

The system consists of the full production chain as shown below. It can be delivered as a pre-assembled unit.

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Three companies with complementary expertise drive the EUHYFIS project: Bauer Kompressoren from Munich/Germany, Casale Chemicals based in Lugano/Switzerland and PLANET – Planungsgruppe Energie und Technik, Oldenburg/Germany.

The European Union supported the research and development phase of EUHYFIS under the 4th Framework Programme in 1999/2000. From the year 2002 a prototype for demonstration purposes will be available with a small pre-series following.

Technical data, as far as available to date, are as follows:

	maximum pressure at compressor outlet 500 bar
	hydrogen production 55 - 60 Nm3/h, sufficient for 3 large passenger buses
	300 kW rated electric power demand

Until a close-meshed grid of hydrogen filling stations can be established, the target market for hydrogen fuel consists of fleet applications where vehicles regularly return to their garages. At the moment, EUHYFIS therefore primarily addresses public bus operators, taxi fleets, delivery and parcel services etc.

In a wider perspective, the EUHYFIS concept can also be adapted to various other sources of hydrogen like biogenic energy carriers and synthesis gas.