Pitpoint invests in High V.LO-City hydrogen refueling station in Antwerp

PitPoint acquired its first hydrogen refuelling station by taking over the High V.LO-City refuelling station in Antwerp on the 1st of January 2017.

Antwerp is one of the demonstration sites in the High V.LO-City project, which aims at facilitating the deployment of fuel cell electric buses and their related hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in four European cities.

The refuelling station in Antwerp has been in operation since the 1st December 2014. The ownership of the station was transferred from Solvay to PitPoint on the 1st of January 2017, when Solvay left the High V.LO-City project as part of a strategic refocus of the company’s hydrogen activities. The role of existing partner PitPoint Clean Fuels has therefore been extended in the project.

The hydrogen refuelling station in Antwerp is a non-public fuelling station with Flemish public transport operator ‘De Lijn’ as its dedicated customer. The station is currently refuelling De Lijn’s five fuel cell electric buses on a daily basis. The hydrogen is delivered to the refuelling station by Air Liquide through a pipeline. The hydrogen used is an industrial by-product from chlorine production via electrolysis. The refuelling station, which is currently located in the port of Antwerp, will eventually be moved to De Lijn’s bus depot in Antwerp. This will ensure a smoother daily operation of the buses.

For PitPoint this investment is an important next step to realise its mission of clean transport by 2030. Oskar Voorsmit, Business Development Manager at PitPoint, said: “Our investment in this station is important to further intensify our role in the High V.LO-City project. The use of fuel cell electric buses improves the air quality and is an important step to realise clean transport by 2030. Our experience with providing clean fuels to our customers makes us the perfect candidate to operate and maintain the hydrogen refuelling station in Antwerp.”

PitPoint’s role in the High V.LO-City project also includes the design, construction and operation of the hydrogen refuelling station for the Groningen site, where Dutch bus operator QBuzz is operating two High V.LO-City fuel cell electric buses since February 2017.

About the FCH JU

The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) is a unique public private partnership supporting research, technological development and demonstration (RTD) activities in fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies in Europe. Its aim is to accelerate the market introduction of these technologies, realising their potential as an instrument in achieving a carbon-lean energy system.

Fuel cells, as an efficient conversion technology, and hydrogen, as a clean energy carrier, have a great potential to help fight carbon dioxide emissions, to reduce dependence on hydrocarbons and to contribute to economic growth. The objective of the FCH JU is to bring these benefits to Europeans through a concentrated effort from all sectors.

The three members of the FCH JU are the European Commission, fuel cell and hydrogen industries represented by Hydrogen Europe and the research community represented by the Research Grouping N.ERGHY.