Graphics Status date: 1. November 2024. Authors:
Carolin Henkenberens and Sonja Harbers
The first hydrogen filling station in Bremerhaven is almost complete. How does it work and who will be the customer here in the future?
Directly in front of the “Bremerhaven Bus” depot, a few minutes drive from Autobahn 27, is the new hydrogen filling station. It looks like any other gas station. The color of the roof and the gas pumps only remind of water. And the fuel nozzle is slightly larger than usual. But it basically works the way you know it.
In principle, refueling here works like regular gas stations.
The company ”Hy-City Bremerhaven” built the hydrogen filling station and also the generation system, the so-called electrolyzer, a few kilometers away. “We have built an electrolyser on the Grauwallring in northern Bremerhaven and we generate green hydrogen with a wind turbine – that is, green electricity and green hydrogen,” explains managing director Andreas Wellbrock..
Hydrogen vehicles are a fringe phenomenon so far
Hydrogen is often produced using natural gas. Then it is hydrogen brown. But it is only climate friendly if it is produced from renewable energy. Once the hydrogen is refueled, it is converted back into electricity in the vehicle and thus drives an electric motor. “In the end there’s just water vapor, no exhaust gases, no nitrogen oxides, nothing at all. No soot particles, just water vapor,” says Wellbrock.
Here’s how you can use hydrogen: Hydrogen is produced from electricity, for example from excess wind energy, and water. It is then distributed through networks of filling stations and burned in fuel cell vehicles. The only exhaust gas produced is water vapor. When “green electricity” is used for production, hydrogen is a pollutant-free fuel.
Hydrogen vehicles are still a marginal phenomenon in Germany. The general public is dependent on electromobility. According to experts, this is on the one hand because there is a greater choice of electric car models and the charging network is better. There is also a technical aspect: electromobility is more efficient than hydrogen drives, says transport expert Martin Lange from the Federal Environment Agency, because electric cars run directly on electricity.
Lange therefore considers that hydrogen drives will play a relatively small role on the road in the future. But who should use the gas station in Bremerhaven in the future?
Another bus company is interested
The anchor customer is “Bremerhaven Bus,” says Andreas Wellbrock of “Hy-City”. The company already has seven hydrogen buses, with three to be added soon. The advantage is that a hydrogen bus can be refueled in just ten minutes, which is faster than charging an
A private bus company from the surrounding area is also looking to buy a hydrogen bus, reports Wellbrock. And the gas pumps are also open to private individuals. But the gas station is not quite finished yet. Buses will be refueled on a trial basis for the first time next week.
The opening is to take place next year. But Wellbrock adds the following: That fast charging stations for electric cars would also be built here, at the new hydrogen filling station.
Hydrogen propulsion and green hydrogen
A hydrogen car is basically an electric car that generates the electricity it needs to run from a fuel cell. It is also equipped with a hydrogen tank. Hydrogen is stored in molecular form in the tank (H2); it reacts in the fuel cell with oxygen (O2), which is also present in the air. In a chemical reaction, the two substances come together to form water and energy. The energy is sent to the car’s battery in the form of electricity, and the water is expelled in the form of steam.
Hydrogen is only found in nature in a limited form, for example as a molecular component of water (H2O). For industrial use it must first be produced using a so-called electrolyser. This requires electricity. If this is obtained from renewable energy such as wind and solar power, it is called green hydrogen.
More on the subject:
This content in the program:
Bremen Two, Evening, November 1, 2024, 5:35 pm
Interview: The Future of Hydrogen Fuel in Transportation
Editor: Welcome to Time.news! Today, we have the opportunity to delve into the promising world of hydrogen fuel with Andreas Wellbrock, the managing director of Hy-City Bremerhaven. Andreas, thank you for joining us!
Andreas Wellbrock: Thank you for having me! I’m excited to discuss our new hydrogen filling station and the future of hydrogen as a clean energy source.
Editor: Let’s dive right in! The new hydrogen filling station in Bremerhaven is complete. Could you tell our readers how this station works and what sets it apart from traditional gas stations?
Andreas Wellbrock: Absolutely! At its core, our hydrogen filling station operates similarly to a conventional gas station. The biggest difference is in the fuel itself. The station, located near the “Bremerhaven Bus” depot, uses a larger fuel nozzle and specializes in dispensing hydrogen produced through an electrolyzer powered by renewable energy.
Editor: That sounds impressive! So, how exactly is the hydrogen produced?
Andreas Wellbrock: We generate green hydrogen using a wind turbine located just a few kilometers away. The process involves using green electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This means our hydrogen production is environmentally friendly, emitting only water vapor when used in vehicles—no harmful exhaust gases, which is a significant advantage over conventional fossil fuels.
Editor: It sounds like a straightforward, clean process. However, hydrogen vehicles are currently a minority on the roads. What do you think is holding them back in favor of battery electric vehicles?
Andreas Wellbrock: It’s true that hydrogen vehicles are still a fringe phenomenon in Germany. The main reasons include the availability of electric vehicle (EV) models and a more developed charging infrastructure for them. Additionally, hydrogen is less efficient than direct electricity usage because of the extra steps involved in production and conversion back to electricity in the vehicle.
Editor: So, what does the future look like for hydrogen vehicles, particularly in Bremerhaven?
Andreas Wellbrock: We anticipate that buses will be the primary users of our hydrogen station. The “Bremerhaven Bus” company is our anchor customer and operates hydrogen buses that can be refueled in just ten minutes—much quicker than charging an electric bus. Plus, we have plans to expand our customer base to include private transport companies eager to adopt hydrogen technology.
Editor: That’s a fascinating perspective! With your focus on hydrogen buses, do you foresee other areas of transportation adopting hydrogen fuel in the near future?
Andreas Wellbrock: Certainly! Besides public transportation, there’s potential for hydrogen in freight transport, especially for long-haul trucking where faster refueling times can enhance efficiency. Research and development continue, and as the technology improves and more infrastructure is established, we may see broader adoption across different sectors.
Editor: Before we wrap up, what message would you like to convey to our readers about the importance of hydrogen fuel in the context of climate change and sustainable transportation?
Andreas Wellbrock: Hydrogen fuel represents a vital piece of the puzzle in our transition towards a more sustainable future. By investing in hydrogen infrastructure and adopting cleaner energy sources, we can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and overall environmental impact. It’s essential for us to diversify our energy solutions to create a balanced and effective strategy for tackling climate change.
Editor: Thank you, Andreas, for sharing your insights on this important topic! We look forward to seeing how hydrogen will shape the future of transportation.
Andreas Wellbrock: Thank you! It’s been a pleasure discussing this with you. Let’s keep the momentum going towards a cleaner, greener future.
20-year newsroom veteran, former Reuters foreign-desk chief. Oversees editorial strategy and standards at Time .News. Multiple Society of Professional Journalists awards.
