By 2016, the H₂BER partner companies will invest more than €10 million (US$13.7 million). 50% of this sum again will be provided in public funds from the federal government, coordinated by the National Organisation of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology.

H2BER project concept. Source: McPhy. Click to enlarge.

H2BER’s operating principle is based on applying hydrogen as an energy source produced using wind power and solar energy. The electricity required for this purpose will be provided by a nearby wind park. H₂ production at high wind speeds will also be tested and observed by scientists in a dedicated research campus. TOTAL is also integrating into the electricity system a solar installation on the station’s roof, developed by its photovoltaic daughter company SunPower. Other components and roles include:

• The CO₂-neutral hydrogen will be produced on site in a McPhy 45-bar pressure electrolyzer, which will be operated by Enertrag. With a capacity of 500 kW, the application-optimized and extendable alkali electrolyzer can produce more than 200 kg of hydrogen per day. That is enough to H₂-refuel around 50 fuel cell vehicles.

• McPhy also operates an innovative solid-state storage system with a capacity of 100 kg and complements the on-site compressed gaseous storage.

• Linde is responsible for the whole hydrogen handling process from production in the electrolyzer to the refueling pumps. This process includes storing the H₂ in gas form in a 45-bar high-level tank, its compression to 900 bar, subsequent pressure storage in high-pressure tanks and refueling of cars and buses. The gas specialist also supplies industrial clients with a proportion of the hydrogen produced on-site.

• 2G has installed a block heat power plant which is operated using the CO₂-neutral energy sources and can convert the hydrogen into electricity and heat. The power plant can alternatively be operated with natural gas (10% organic) and supplies all of the fueling station buildings from the H2BER control room to the shop, to the vehicle washing area.

• Total operates two H₂ fueling pumps at the site, one for cars and one for buses.

In the context of a collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Transport and the industry, the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP), which is Europe’s largest demonstration project for hydrogen and cell fuel technology, a network of 50 H₂ stations will be created by the end of 2015.

More than 50 cars and buses in Berlin are already fueled with hydrogen in the context of the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP). The CEP is the largest demonstration project for H2 mobility in Europe and a flagship project of the National Innovation Programme for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology in the transport sector. With the support of the Federal Government, alongside the production, transport and storage of hydrogen, its application in fuel cell vehicles and H₂ refueling technology are also being tested.

The Total multi-energy fueling station offers multiple energy sources including traditional fuels based on petroleum products; hydrogen; natural gas (CNG); autogas (LPG); and CCS fast charging for battery-powered EVs.