Project launched to advance heavy-duty hydrogen refuelling infrastructure

Announced by the Texas headquartered Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), the joint industry project (JIP) has been launched to help spur the growth and innovation of hydrogen fuelling technologies and infrastructure.

The US Environmental Protection Agency has set carbon targets for heavy-duty vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 60 per cent by 2032.

SwRI’s H2HD REFUEL (Hydrogen Heavy Duty Refuelling Equipment and Facilities Utilisation Evaluation Laboratory) JIP aims to help the heavy-duty vehicle industry meet its decarbonisation and zero-emissions goals by advancing hydrogen refuelling station (HRS) technologies.

SwRI said its researchers will use hands-on experiments, system modelling and theoretical studies to strengthen existing HRS equipment and procedures and explore potential alternatives.

“There are less than 60 hydrogen refuelling stations in the US, but only one or two currently exist that can meet the specific needs of heavy-duty hydrogen-powered vehicles,” said Dr Thomas Briggs Jr, institute engineer with SwRI’s Powertrain Engineering Division.

“Many light-duty hydrogen stations face significant technical challenges, including supply chain issues, mechanical failures, and lack of infrastructure. Considering the multimillion-dollar investment per station, these issues reflect a significant technology gap that industry and government must bridge before building additional heavy-duty refuelling stations.”

The H2HD REFUEL JIP hopes to address these issues by connecting hydrogen vehicle manufacturers, OEMs and refuelling station operators to develop innovative, dependable and compatible HRS technologies.

The programme will investigate a broad range of HRS-related topics to help solve existing technical challenges, such as discovering the best onboard hydrogen storage method: liquid, H70 gas or cryo-compression, and comparing the performances of refuelling station flow components. The JIP also plans to study hydrogen losses from cryogenic systems that occur from boil-off and system inefficiencies.

“Connecting industry stakeholders is vital to developing compatible and reliable hydrogen refuelling technologies and associated infrastructure,” said Angel Wileman, the JIP’s project manager from SwRI’s Mechanical Engineering Division. “H2HD REFUEL’s comprehensive approach will ensure that the industry can meet the growing demand for heavy-duty hydrogen vehicles efficiently and safely. This JIP is another example of how SwRI is leading the way when it comes to hydrogen energy research.”

H2HD REFUEL will be assisted by findings from SwRI’s hydrogen-energy-related initiatives, including those from the H2-ICE consortium, which has built a hydrogen internal combustion engine-powered heavy-duty vehicle, and an on-site liquid hydrogen storage tank capable of holding up to 17,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen.