Aalborg

Saga

Dubaï

Copenhagen

Los Angeles

Düsseldorf

Kawazaki

Tokyo

Rotterdam

Paris

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
45
46
47
48

Flow plate

Anode

Cathode

Hydrogen,
the quiet revolution

Light and abundant, hydrogen has an obvious role to play in the energy mix.

Now that the first standard production hydrogen-powered electric cars have been put on the market, this energy solution is coming to our cities. In fact, it’s an accessible alternative that meets the challenges of clean transportation.

It will also make its way into our apartment buildings and homes (especially in heating and power generation).

Hydrogen energy can compensate for the intermittency (day/night variations for solar power, irregular flows for wind power) of renewable energies by storing the excess electricity produced during periods of high production and/or low consumption. This makes hydrogen an interesting solution to the challenges of the energy transition.

If 1% of all the world's cars in circulation converted to hydrogen, they would create a hydrogen market estimated to be worth 15 billion euros.

The hydrogen car is a clear example and a first step towards a "hydrogen society".

Satisfaction and performance

The hydrogen car is a vehicle that produces its own electric energy "on board" with a fuel cell that runs on hydrogen. While the car boasts characteristics similar to those of a "conventional" car, it also offers many additional benefits to its users.

Zero pollution

The only by-product of hydrogen-powered vehicles is water. They are very efficient over long-distance trips, which currently account for 75% of CO₂ emissions from the transportation sector.

Zero noise

Hydrogen cars are quiet.

320km 5min

Quick charging
and long life battery

Thanks to the hydrogen stations installed by Air Liquide, charging is extremely easy and safe and takes less than 5 minutes. A single charging of hydrogen gives the car a driving range of more than 300 miles.

Quick charging
and long life battery

Thanks to the hydrogen stations installed by Air Liquide, charging is extremely easy and safe and takes less than 5 minutes. A single charging of hydrogen gives the car a driving range of more than 300 miles.

The hydrogen fuel cell, how does it work?

The hydrogen fuel cell converts the energy contained in the hydrogen molecule into electricity by mixing it with oxygen.

Step 1

Hydrogen is injected into the fuel cell.

Step 2

When it comes into contact with the anode, hydrogen electrons and protons are separated, producing the electricity needed to power the engine.

Step 3

On the other side of the membrane, oxygen causes the protons to react, thus forming steam. In consequence: the vehicle does not release any CO₂ or particles and makes no noise.

The hydrogen charging station, how does it work?

Storage
Low pressure hydrogen is stored in cylinders, tanks or tube trailers.

Conversion area
The hydrogen is compressed again and then stored in cylinders known as "buffers." It is then cooled so that it can be distributed.

Distribution
Drivers can charge their vehicle in under five minutes.

The distribution network challenge

A developing network

We are deploying a global network of hydrogen charging stations currently spanning Japan, Denmark, France, Germany, and the United States. Depending on the specific characteristics of each country, the Group works alone or in partnership with local industrial firms. As a result, Air Liquide collaborates with automobile manufacturers and government authorities to develop hydrogen energy.

100 hydrogen stations designed and installed worldwide

Air Liquide is actively involved in the development of the hydrogen energy sector worldwide. The Group has designed and installed almost 100 hydrogen stations worldwide in Europe (France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium), Asia (Japan, Korea), North America (USA, Canada) and the Middle East (United Arab Emirates).

Toward low-carbon production:
"Blue Hydrogen"

Hydrogen can be produced from a range of energy sources, including natural gas and renewable energies. The Group is committed to producing at least 50% of its hydrogen energy without CO₂ emissions by 2020. This is the Group’s "Blue Hydrogen" initiative.

To achieve this, Air Liquide combines biogas reforming, the use of renewable energies during water electrolysis, and the use of technologies for the capture and upgrading of carbon emitted during the process of producing hydrogen from natural gas.

Even when it is produced from natural gas, hydrogen is a virtuous energy: for equal distances traveled, hydrogen cars allow to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% compared with combustion vehicles.

The "hydrogen society"

Air Liquide, a pioneer in the hydrogen energy sector

Thanks to the expertise developed in the industry (aeronautics, space and petrochemicals), Air Liquide masters the entire hydrogen value chain, from production and storage, to distribution and development of applications for end users, thus contributing to the widespread use of hydrogen as a clean energy source, particularly for mobility.

In addition to the personal vehicle market, Air Liquide supplies charging stations for buses and forklifts. Europe, Canada and the United States have also seen the emergence of several programs to develop and market fuel cells for fleets of forklifts or passenger ships.

These innovative projects position us as a leading company in the development of hydrogen energy on an international scale.

The hydrogen revolution

Hydrogen is to energy what the internet once was to information technology: a real technological, economic and societal revolution.

According to the world's first global quantification study of the role of hydrogen in energy transition, issued by the Hydrogen Council* of which Air Liquide is a founding member, hydrogen could help reduce carbon emissions by 20% (under the 2 °C scenario) by 2050. Hydrogen could generate $2.5 trillion per year in revenues and create more than 30 million jobs.

Key figures
- In 2016, Air Liquide sold 14 billion cubic meters of hydrogen to the refinery and petrochemicals sectors for a total of €2 billion.

* Hydrogen Scaling up, november 2017 - study of the Hydrogen Council with McKinsey.

Hydrogen,
the quiet revolution