February 2024. In a new hydrogen ecosystem demonstration, Elemental Energy‘s 110kVA H2IPO has been used to provide off-grid power supply to the refueling operations for the launch of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen vehicle in Midrand, Johannesburg.
Anglo American Platinum Group Metal, BMW South Africa and Sasol together launched the first South African trial of a pilot fleet of BMW iX5 Hydrogen vehicles. The public road vehicle trial was held in parallel to the Hydrogen Council’s Regional Meeting held for the first time in Africa, in Johannesburg on 12 and 13 February 2024.
Elemental Energy’s H2IPO used a combination of solar and hydrogen to power an on-site hydrogen compressor and Air Products South Africa‘s vehicle refueler for the duration of the event, replacing the need for a diesel generator or an extension of the site’s grid power supply. The compressor was used to pressurise hydrogen, supplied by Air Products South Africa, from 200bar to 380bar for storage in a mobile hydrogen storage trailer, built by Elemental Energy and operated by Air Products South Africa. From the trailer the hydrogen was dispensed to refuel the BMW iX5 vehicles.
The H2IPO is a hybrid power station that can combine multiple available energy sources such as solar, wind or grid power and backs these up with a hybrid battery and hydrogen solution. The H2IPO is a fully integrated, standalone power station that provides a smart, truly uninterruptible 24/7 power supply for on-grid or off-grid sites.
Elemental Energy’s hydrogen trailer solution can hold 99kg of hydrogen at 380bar and is designed to seamlessly connect to the H2IPO units to supply the hydrogen needed to operate. This lightweight, plug-and-play hydrogen transport solution improves the cost and efficacy for hydrogen transport, enabling increased availability of hydrogen for multiple applications.