Toyotsu Air Liquide Hydrogen Energy Corporation which is a joint venture between Toyota Tsusho and Air Liquide Japan completed the construction of two hydrogen (H2) filling stations in Aichi Prefecture, and held a ceremony to celebrate the completion simultaneously at two locations on January 19.

The development of H2 supply infrastructures and filling stations for fuel cell vehicles (FCV) has been on the move in the 4 major metropolitan areas of Tokyo, Nagoya, Kansai and Fukuoka since the end of last year when general sales of FCV started. The construction at 2 locations is part of the development and they are the first commercial H2 stations in the Chubu district and in Aichi Prefecture. They are “Atsuta H2 Station” in Nagoya City and “Toyota Interchange H2 Station” in Toyota City, both of which were constructed under the government subsidized project granted in 2013.

The Atsuta H2 Station is a stand-alone facility installed in the premises of the sales agency for accessories Toyota Buhin Aichi Kyohan belonging to the Toyota Group, while the Toyota H2 Station is a facility built combined with self-filling gasoline stands. Both stations adopt an off-site procurement system of hydrogen in which compressed hydrogen is brought in by trailer, and capable to fill up a vehicle within 3 minutes at a pressure of 70MPa.

The filling system consists of Kobe Steel Compressor to raise the pressure of compressed (20MPa) up to 40MPa and 82MPa through 2 steps, JSW steel-made pressure reservoir and Tatsuno dispenser with a pre-cool function for differential pressure filling into FCV. The composition and manufacturers of facilities in both stations are identical fundamentally, and the components including the compressor are mounted on the container unit at the backside of protective wall.

The stations are managed by Toyota Tsusho, and Air Liquide Japan is in charge of designing, operating and engineering. At the initial stage when there is a little need for filling, hydrogen will be supplied as bundle of cylinders. The operation of station is scheduled to start in early February. Jun Karube president of Toyota Tsusho told that a concrete price will be disclosed later, considering now at “somewhere from 1,000 to 1,100 JPY.” The stations will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. five days a week.

On November 28, 2013, Air Liquide Japan and Toyota Tsusho established a joint venture named Toyotsu Air Liquide Hydrogen Energy (capital: 495 million JPY) for the H2 station business for FCV, with ownership of 51% by Toyotsu and 49% by Air Liquide Japan, which has been proceeding with the construction of two H2 station.

As for the commercial H2 station business by the joint venture, we have two locations at the moment, but president Karube commented, “We would like to get involved in the infrastructure building as a member of the Toyota Group to realize a hydrogen energy society.” In practical terms, an H2 station of mobile type is being planned in the Metropolitan and Chubu (around Nagoya) Districts. Furthermore, regarding the future vision, he said, “We are aiming to supply CO2-free hydrogen, and would like to generate hydrogen from renewable energy or sewage sludge.

On the other hand, the Air Liquide Group is operating commercial hydrogen stations in the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and the US, and has experiences at 60 locations including demonstrative stations all over the world. In Japan the aforementioned station is the first attempt for commercial purposes.

President Yahara of Air Liquide Japan said, “We see it as a good opportunity to materialize the commitment of the Air Liquide Group who respond to world needs with innovation that we have achieved to build hydrogen stations in the very central field of the Japanese automobile industry which leads the world by motorization.”

On January 18, Michel Sapin, Financial Minister of France which is the sponsor country of COP21 visited the Atsuta H2 Station during his stay in Japan. Yahara president of Air Liquide Japan unveiled that the French minister praised the joint project as a showcase of innovative partnership and a valuable contribution to the global environment.