ANGI Energy Systems, a Vontier business, broke ground on its new, $4-million Hydrogen Refueling Test Facility, the first of its kind in the Midwest.

ANGI, which has more than 40 years of experience in the design, manufacturing, and maintenance of refueling equipment for compressed natural gas (CNG) and renewable natural gas (RNG), launched its hydrogen business in 2022.

The new facility will be a cornerstone for R&D activity and will play a pivotal role in the testing, and validation of hydrogen refueling station systems and components, including functional testing of globally standardized SAE J2601 refueling protocols for gaseous hydrogen.

The new facility will also showcase the viability of hydrogen as a sustainable and secure energy source to reduce the carbon intensity of hard-to-abate sectors such as transportation and industry. Heavy-duty transportation is identified as a high-impact use for clean hydrogen in the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap.

Construction is due to be complete by July 2024. Once the facility is commissioned, in-house acceptance testing and validation activities will commence, with the aspiration to make it available for third-party companies to use for their own projects from early 2026.

ANGI also plans to form partnerships with local colleges to provide opportunities for apprenticeships, helping to build a highly skilled workforce in the Midwest. These future experts will lead the design and development of the hydrogen refueling infrastructure for customers not only in the US, but around the world.

ANGI is also preparing to ship and build its first Hydrogen Refueling Station (HRS) customer order from Trillium Energy to be installed at Santa Clarita Transit this summer. Its HRS solution, which is based on a modular design, offers configurable and flexible systems with high reliability backed by an extensive network of service and maintenance technicians.

Cloud-connectivity supports performance and uptime through remote monitoring, energy management and preventative maintenance. A typical HRS consists of a hydrogen dispenser, redundant compression capabilities, a site recirculation system, chillers, and a gas management panel to control the flow and pressure of gas within the station.