WP 5

Creating impact

There are several economic, environmental and social impacts from this JRP which are detailed in Section B2 but summarised below:

Industry impact:

– New measurement capability to allow HRSs to charge customers correctly when refuelling their vehicles.

– The full ISO 14687 hydrogen purity analysis can be performed which will improve lifetime of the fuel cell vehicle.

–  Correct sampling can be followed by HRSs before sending hydrogen samples to laboratories for analysis.

– HRSs can have the confidence to purchase fully validated online hydrogen purity analysers.

– Existing commercial laboratories can expand their services to start providing hydrogen purity analysis, particulate measurement and flow meter calibrations for refuelling stations.

– The JRP will set up an online virtual measurement service hub (via a website) that will list all calibration and measurement laboratories in Europe that can provide measurement services for the hydrogen industry. The hub will allow end-users to easily find and access these laboratories.

Metrological and scientific impact:

– Primary standards to verify hydrogen flow meters under real conditions using 875 bar hydrogen will be available.

– Flow laboratories will be able to perform calibration of flow meters using safer procedures than using 875 bar hydrogen.

– Gas analysis laboratories will be able to buy calibration standards for all impurities in ISO 14687 to ensure they are providing traceable measurements.

– Instrument manufacturers will have access to the relevant standards needed to validate their instruments.

– Laboratories and instrument manufacturers will be able to prove their competency for hydrogen purity measurements.

– Gas analysis laboratories will be able to select suitable sampling vessels for customers requiring their services.

Economic impact:

– Gas analysis laboratories will need to spend less on investment for analytical instruments in order to provide a hydrogen purity service.

– The development of the hydrogen purity methods will help to prevent serious damage to fuel cell vehicles which would be costly for the automotive manufacturers to replace.

– The implementation of online hydrogen purity analysers developed in this project can reduce the need for contracting regular hydrogen purity analysis by a commercial laboratory with an important cost reduction in quality assurance of hydrogen.

Lower price of hydrogen will be achieved due to optimisation of quality assurance cost.

Social impact:

– New players entering the hydrogen industry will learn the importance of laboratory accreditation and how to prove competency through interlaboratory comparisons.

Dissemination of knowledge learned from the project to end-users will be achieved through workshops.

Best practice seminars will be hosted by the partners to train end-users.

Better confidence of the hydrogen quality will be obtained by car makers and users.

Environmental impact:

– This project will support the introduction of hydrogen vehicles which if replacing conventional petrol cars can help countries reach challenging emission targets.

– Hydrogen can be produced by the electrolysis of water using renewable sources of energy such as solar or wind thus eliminating production of carbon dioxide when making the fuel.

– The emissions from hydrogen cars is safer for health as it only contains water vapour.