The whole value chain in hydrogen needs to be addressed in a joined up way for the successful expansion of hydrogen refuelling networks in North America. That was the message this week from one company that is active in opening hydrogen stations across Canada, with five operational and a further 20 in development.
Patric Ouellette, Vice-President of Infrastructure at clean-fuels business HTEC, headquartered in Vancouver in Canada, was speaking at gasworld sister title H2 View’s Renewables & Ecosystem Snap Summit yesterday (Monday 24 April). He told delegates that realising a successful hydrogen ecosystem for refuelling vehicles was a challenge because there are so many areas that need attention and a joined-up view for progress to be swift.
“You need an effective safety programme and you need affordable, low-carbon-intensity hydrogen, for starters,” said Ouellette. “You also need the right public policy context, with engaged and receptive municipalities that make it easier for fuel retailers to get on board with the proposition. If all of these dimensions are in place, you then need reliable and affordable distribution and dispensing equipment, which is something that HTEC is always working on. And you need trained technicians and operators through the value chain.”
Stepping back from some of the detail, Ouellette also emphasised how the big picture also needed attention, in the form of aligned growth between production and distribution capacity, station capacity and vehicle demand.
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