European company, Qair, advances in establishing eco-friendly hydrogen infrastructure
Qair, a leading European independent renewable energy company, is making significant strides in decarbonizing European freight transport and promoting hydrogen mobility. The company's latest initiatives involve the construction of hydrogen refueling stations (HRS) and green hydrogen production units across Europe and Iceland.
Building a Network of Hydrogen Refueling Stations
Qair's plan includes the development of a network of HRS to support hydrogen-powered transportation, including trucks and buses. These stations will serve as critical infrastructure, enabling the adoption of hydrogen-powered transportation.
One of the first HRS to be developed will be located in the Méridienne Economic Activity Zone in Béziers, France. This station is a critical node of the "Corridor H2," an initiative aimed at decarbonizing European freight transport. The Béziers station is expected to be operational by the end of the year.
In addition to the Béziers station, Qair plans to develop four more HRS in Reykjavik, Akureyri, Egilsstaðir, and Freysnes over the next three years.
Green Hydrogen Production Units
The plan also includes installing green hydrogen production units powered by renewable energy sources. Qair is constructing a 2 MW hydrogen electrolysis plant in Grundartangi, Iceland, as part of a larger-scale electrolysis initiative. This plant will electrolyze water using clean electricity, producing green hydrogen on-site or nearby the consumption points.
Reducing CO2 Emissions
By replacing diesel and other fossil fuels in heavy transport and industry with green hydrogen, Qair's infrastructure plan aims to enable a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions. The use of green hydrogen, generated via renewable sources, is carbon-neutral at the production stage, allowing significant decarbonization of sectors traditionally hard to electrify.
The hydrogen produced by Qair's Green Hydrogen Infrastructure project in Iceland is expected to avoid CO2 emissions, contributing to the decarbonization of European freight transport at the southern end of the North Sea to Mediterranean Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) corridor.
A Commitment to Sustainable Energy Solutions
Qair's HRS construction in France reinforces the company's commitment to sustainable energy solutions and highlights the company's culture of cross-regional expertise. The company, which owns the world's first commercial hydrogen refueling station built in 2003, is expanding its Green Hydrogen Infrastructure project to Iceland.
The Blær project, aimed at providing hydrogen refueling stations across Iceland, is a significant step toward the decarbonisation of heavy transport in Europe. The Béziers station construction marks another significant step in this direction.
While specific details such as exact capacity, timeline, or investment figures were not specified in the available search results, Qair’s overall strategy clearly focuses on integrating renewable energy production with hydrogen value chains in Europe and Iceland, including logistics via constructed HRS and production facilities to foster a significant green hydrogen market and reduce CO2 emissions correspondingly.
[1] European Investment Bank. (2021). Qair to develop hydrogen refuelling station in France. [online] Available at: https://www.eib.org/en/press/news/2021/03/qair-to-develop-hydrogen-refuelling-station-in-france
[2] Qair. (2021). Qair to develop hydrogen refuelling station in France. [online] Available at: https://www.qair.com/news/qair-to-develop-hydrogen-refuelling-station-in-france
[3] European Commission. (2021). Connecting Europe Facility. [online] Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-green-deal/connecting-europe-facility_en
- Qair's development of a hydrogen refueling station network will support the adoption of hydrogen-powered transportation, such as trucks and buses, and function as critical infrastructure for hydrogen mobility.
- The Béziers station, a node of the "Corridor H2" initiative in France, is one of the first HRS to be developed by Qair and is expected to operate by the end of the year.
- In addition to the Béziers station, Qair plans to establish four more hydrogen refueling stations in Reykjavik, Akureyri, Egilsstaðir, and Freysnes over the next three years.
- Green hydrogen production units powered by renewable energy sources, like the 2 MW hydrogen electrolysis plant in Grundartangi, Iceland, will be installed as part of Qair's strategy to reduce CO2 emissions.
- The use of green hydrogen generated via renewables enables substantial decarbonization in traditionally hard-to-electrify sectors, such as the industry and heavy transport, contributing to the overall goal of tackling climate-change.
