(Niebuell) – A public hydrogen filling station for cars, trucks and buses has started operations in Niebüll, North Frisia. Electrolysers produce climate-neutral hydrogen directly on site using electricity from wind farms in the north of Schleswig-Holstein. This is sold to the gas station in Niebüll. Another hydrogen filling station of the same type is in trial operation in Husum and will be opened to the public on September 13th.
The initiators are GP Joule GmbH and the project company eFarming GmbH & Co. KG. Gas stations and buses are part of the eFarm joint project, in which 20 partners from the north are involved. “With eFarm we can replace around 1.200.000 liters of diesel per year and multiply this in the next few years,” explains Ove Petersen, GP Joule co-founder and managing director. “What is needed now are incentive systems that truck and bus companies can use to invest in the vehicles.”
Two hydrogen-powered fuel cell buses have been in operation since May Regular transport in North Frisia in use. E-Farm, together with the bus operator Autokraft, decided on the “H2.City Gold” model from the Portuguese manufacturer Caetano. The buses are air-conditioned and can accommodate up to 39 seated and 35 standing passengers. 
Around thirty fuel cell cars belong directly to the eFarm project. A tank full costs around 50 euros and is enough for up to 600 kilometers. Refueling takes four to five minutes and billing is done via a fuel card with a PIN, explains eFarming managing director André Steinau.
Green hydrogen is already attracting other interested parties. “Private people and businesses in the project area have announced that they will convert around 100 more cars to hydrogen. Many of them are already on the roads of North Frisia,” adds André Steinau.
During electrolysis, only part of the energy can be converted into hydrogen, the rest becomes heat. This is used in the eFarm project to heat buildings. Overall, 95 percent of the energy used in the form of wind power would be used. The Federal Ministry of Transport has funded eFarm with 8,8 million euros.
Photo above
JP Joule puts Germany's first public filling station for green, regionally produced hydrogen into operation for refueling cars, trucks and buses. © JP Joules
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Mobile storage units transport the green hydrogen to the filling stations. © GP Joules
