• With a supply capacity of 700 bar pressure, the new hydrogen station is a joint project of Enagás -through the start-up Scale Gas-, Toyota Spain, Urbaser, Carburos Metálicos, Sumitomo Corporation Spain and the Spanish Confederation of Service Station Entrepreneurs (CEEES).
• The refuelling station, located in the San Antonio Service Station, at Avenida de Manoteras 34, Madrid, will allow the refuelling of a fleet of 12 Toyota Mirai units that will be used by the companies behind this pioneering project, thus promoting the use of hydrogen as a clean and sustainable energy.
Hydrogen is a clean and sustainable energy that is already a real alternative to traditional energy sources. To continue promoting hydrogen and the use of zero-emission vehicles powered by this energy vector, the first hydrogen refuelling station in Spain has been inaugurated today for long-range electric fuel cell vehicles and with a supply capacity of 700 bar/MPa pressure.
This refuelling station, located within the EESS San Antonio S.L. (service station), located at Avenida de Manoteras 34, Madrid, has been set up thanks to the partnership between five leading companies from different sectors: Enagás -through Scale Gas, a start-up born from Enagás Emprende entrepreneurship programme, Toyota Spain, Urbaser, Carburos Metálicos, Sumitomo Corporation Spain and the Spanish Confederation of Service Station Entrepreneurs (CEEES).
Inauguration of the hydrogen refuelling station in Madrid
The new hydrogen refuelling facility, also known by its acronym HRS (Hydrogen Refuelling Station), allows hydrogen to be supplied at 700 bar/MPa, which makes it a pioneer in Spain: it is the first to offer hydrogen at such high pressure, making it possible to refuel the tanks of the latest generation of fuel cell vehicles.
A fleet of 12 Toyota Mirai, divided among the different companies that have collaborated to develop the HRS in Madrid, will demonstrate the viability of hydrogen as a valid energy source for everyday life: the refuelling process is equivalent to that of a traditional propulsion model -less than 5 minutes-, offering maximum power of 155 hp and a range of about 550 km.
Mirai is a fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle (FCEV) powered by electricity produced by the chemical reaction between oxygen (taken from external air) and hydrogen stored in its tanks.
Since it was launched in 2014, first in Japan and the United States and later in different European countries, Mirai has sold more than 11,000 units, becoming the icon of Toyota's commitment to a hydrogen-based society.
Hydrogen and hydrogen stations
Hydrogen is a key energy in the decarbonisation process, and could be an energy vector that helps curb climate change. It is an unlimited energy source that can be obtained in a sustainable way; it is easy to store and transport and can be used in many different areas, from the transportation of goods - trucks, ships, etc- or people -private vehicles, buses, taxis, etc- to the air conditioning of homes and buildings or the supply of energy for the operation of production plants.
The new hydrogen refuelling station will supply green hydrogen, generated from renewable energies. It has a supply capacity of up to 10 kg of hydrogen per day, with a purity of more than 99.98% and a refuelling pressure of 700 bar/MPa, meaning that the tanks of fuel cell vehicles can be refuelled in less than five minutes.
All the partner companies of the consortium behind the creation and implementation of this new hydrogen refuelling station are committed to hydrogen as an energy not only of the future but also of the present, promoting sustainable mobility with zero-emission vehicles, such as the Toyota Mirai.
In this context, Enagás and CEEES have signed a partnership agreement for the deployment of hydrogen refuelling points, so that in the coming years a dense network of refuelling facilities can be established to enable the circulation of fuel cell vehicles such as the Toyota Mirai throughout Spain.
Authorities and quotes
The inauguration of the hydrogen refuelling station was attended by the Secretary General of Industry and Small and Medium Enterprises, Raül Blanco, and the Councillor of the Area of Entrepreneurship and Innovation of Madrid City Council, Ángel Niño, as well as leading representatives of the five companies behind the hydrogen station.
Thus, the CEO of Enagás, Marcelino Oreja; the Chairman and CEO of Toyota Spain, Miguel Carsi; the General Manager of Urban Services of Urbaser, Manuel Andrés Martínez; the General Manager of Carburos Metálicos and Vice-chairman of Air Products in Southern Europe and the Maghreb, Miquel Lope; and the Executive Chairman of Sumitomo Corporation Spain, Domingo Cervantes, were all present. The treasurer of CEEES and owner of the San Antonio Service Station, Juan Santos, also attended.
Marcelino Oreja, CEO of Enagás: “This hydrogen station, the first in Spain at 700 bar pressure, is the result of a pilot project initiated two years ago by a consortium of companies, all of them committed to the energy transition from different fields. The common commitment to entrepreneurship and innovation, the promotion of industry and employment in Spain, as well as the willingness to collaborate and co-invest have been key factors that have allowed us to inaugurate this pioneering facility in our country today”.
Miguel Carsi, Chairman and CEO of Toyota Spain: “Toyota’s overarching vision includes hydrogen as a fundamental pillar, on which a very important part of our strategy to become a 100% zero-emission mobility provider is based. Toyota’s Environmental Challenge 2050 aims to positively contribute to minimising the impact on environmental change and help build a sustainable society by eliminating CO2 emissions in vehicles, operations and the supply chain. And for this, hydrogen and vehicles like the Toyota Mirai will be essential. With the inauguration of this hydrogen station, the first at 700 bar in Spain, we are promoting hydrogen as an energy not only for the future but also for the present, demonstrating that it can and must be a key energy vector in our country”.
Manuel Andrés Martínez, General Manager of Urban Services of Urbaser: “Urbaser’s collaboration in this pioneering project in Spain continues the line of support for sustainable mobility and the promotion of the circular economy, a key element for sustainable development and an opportunity as a driver for energy transition and climate action. This partnership is a clear commitment to environmental innovation and the sustainable recovery of our country”.
Miquel Lope, General Manager of Carburos Metálicos and Vice-chairman of Air Products in Southern Europe and the Maghreb: “Carburos Metálicos is part of the world’s largest producer of hydrogen, the Air Products Group. Moreover, as a specialist in all aspects of its value chain it is aware of the role it must play as a mobility fuel in decarbonisation and the energy transition. The company’s participation in this new project is part of our collaborative strategy to promote the creation of a hydrogen ecosystem in our country”.
Domingo Cervantes, Executive Chairman of Sumitomo Corporation Spain: “We are delighted to be part of this initiative, which highlights Sumitomo Corporation Spain’s commitment to sustainability and investment in a wide range of alternative technologies. The effort made by this consortium, spearheaded by Toyota and Enagás, to introduce hydrogen as a mobility vector, is very important for customers and society as a whole, as it provides a clean, viable and future-proof alternative to fossil fuels and electric cars. The opening of this hydrogen station also marks a milestone in the urgent task of reducing carbon emissions from vehicles. We at Sumitomo Corporation Spain are proud to be part of this consortium and to participate in this event”.
Jorge de Benito, Chairman of CEEES: “The inauguration of this first 700 bar/MPa hydrogen refuelling point is a crucial milestone in the deployment of a network of such facilities to enable zero-emission fuel cell vehicles to refuel at our filling stations. The commitment of leading institutions such as Toyota, Enagás, Urbaser, Carburos Metálicos and Sumitomo is also the commitment of CEEES and its partners, such as the San Antonio Service Station, in the fight to move towards truly sustainable mobility and a low-carbon economy”.
