A step-by-step guide to build hydrogen filling stations

"With this guideline, we would like to provide support to filling station builders and authorities and thus simplify the planning and construction of hydrogen filling stations," says Bach. For many years, the mobility researcher and his team have been working on the transition from fossil to renewable energy and the associated potential to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions from road traffic. In addition to electromobility, the focus is on hydrogen and synthetic fuels. In view of the steady expansion of photovoltaics in Switzerland, these forms of mobility are likely to play an increasingly important role in the future. Hydrogen is also a central element of the new energy strategy, as it offers the possibility of temporarily transferring excess electricity from hydroelectric power stations or solar power plants – which is generated in large quantities in the summer months – to other energy sectors such as mobility. This electricity is first converted into hydrogen by water electrolysis and is then available for refuelling fuel cell vehicles; at the same time, this is the first stage of so-called power-to-gas technology.

Since 2015, Empa has been operating its "move" research and technology transfer platform together with partners from the public sector and industry. Designed as the charging and fueling station of the future, "move" allows electric, hydrogen and gas vehicles to be refuelled and the advantages and drawbacks of these three mobility paths to be explored.