DETROIT ? NextEnergy on Feb. 8 signed an agreement with BP to establish a hydrogen refueling station at NextEnergy’s new facility in TechTown.
The station, expected to be completed in the summer of 2006, will be BP?s third in Southeast Michigan and one of several funded and operated by BP worldwide.
The BP hydrogen station at the Next Energy Center is supported by U.S. Department of Energy?s five-year fuel cell vehicle and infrastructure validation effort. The station will enable research and development partners to work on resolving barriers to offering hydrogen fuel commercially, including the creation of retail-compatible hydrogen refueling systems and the cost and feasibility of renewable hydrogen generation.
Automotive industry partners such as DaimlerChrysler Corporation will use the station to evaluate which hydrogen fuel-cell technologies will have the greatest potential to achieve U.S. Department of Energy hydrogen cost targets.
At its 45,000 square-foot technology center in downtown Detroit, NextEnergy is working with Air Products and Chemicals Inc. and BP on the design and construction of the hydrogen station and assisting with data collection and daily visual inspections for the facility.
In addition to NextEnergy and BP, several partners will be involved in the development of the hydrogen station:
Air Products and Chemicals Inc., a globally diversified gases and chemicals company located in Allentown, Penn., will supply hardware and equipment.
Albert Kahn Associates, Inc., a Detroit-based architectural engineering firm, will provide overall design of the station.
DMA Technical Services, Inc., an engineering and project management firm specializing in alternative energy infrastructure for transportation and power applications will consult on the design and engineering of the site.
Praxair, a Danbury, Conn.-based industrial gases company, will supply the hydrogen for the station.
REB Research and Consulting, a Michigan based developer of hydrogen purification and production technology will provide a hydrogen purification system for the station.
