The 7th Framework Programme HELTSTACK project seminar “The Role of Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technology in Delivering Energy Security for Europe“ took place in the premises of the Academy of Sciences in Tallinn on May the 8th 2015. The seminar was organised in cooperation with the project partners; The Estonian National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, KBFI; Estonian company AS Elcogen and the Technical Research Centre of Finland, VTT. The seminar was co-sponsored by the 7th FP PEOPLE-2013- I-APP grant no 612431.
The seminar Agenda was really comprehensive including the Fuel Cell development sucess stories and practical applications, also the Hyundai iX35 car demonstration by OY Woikoski AB out side in the inner-yard of the Academy:
See the presentations here.
The Finnish company OY Woikoski AB published the press-release on the occasion.
PRESS RELEASE / FREE FOR PUBLICATION ON 8th OF MAY 2015
OY WOIKOSKI AB COMMITTING STRONGLY TO HYDROGEN SOCIETY
Oy Woikoski Ab, a Finnish family-owned company, is heavily involved in the development of a hydrogen society. Woikoski opened on 12th of November a new hydrogen plant in Kokkola. The plant is the largest facility in Europe to produce hydrogen by water electrolysis, and will simultaneously produce ultra-pure oxygen. Woikoski sees hydrogen as the resource of the future, and has in the past year made heavy investments in hydrogen production, logistics, and applications. Woikoski is pioneering a lower-carbon society: a new hydrogen plant, hydrogen refuelling stations, and a fuel cell car are just some examples of these investments.
A century at the forefront of hydrogen production
Woikoski has produced hydrogen for 102 years; only the production methods have changed. Hydrogen is derived from water through electrolysis, from natural gas or biogas through steam reformation, or by using the by-product hydrogen, e.g. from various chemical industry processes. Woikoski saw the potential for using hydrogen as a fuel in cars as early as the 1930s, when a hydrogen-fuelled car was frequently seen on the roads near the company’s factory at Voikoski. The hydrogen fuelling station at Voikoski is the result of Woikoski’s own innovation, which aims to conquer international fuelling station markets. The station fills the car tank using either 350 or 700 bar pressure. The filling is completed in a few minutes, and a full tank lasts around 600 kilometres. Late 2015 Woikoski is opening one new hydrogen fuelling station to Finland and the first outside Finland station to Gothenburg, Sweden.
Zero emissions
Woikoski is heavily involved in the development of a hydrogen-fuelled society, and has created the conditions for introducing a zero-emission hydrogen car into the Finnish market. Use of hydrogen would significantly reduce the CO2 emissions of the automobile industry. A number of hydrogen-driven cars, buses, and forklifts are already in use in Europe. In addition, noise emission can be reduced by means of fuel cells, e.g. in snowmobiles and water vehicles.
Woikoski believes in hydrogen
Woikoski is investing seriously in hydrogen production, logistics, and user applications. A hydrogen car and fuelling stations are just some examples of the company’s hydrogen-related investments. In November 2014, a new hydrogen plant was opened at Kokkola Industrial Park. At the same time, the modern hydrogen transportation units based on composite technology was taken into use. Woikoski believes that the use of hydrogen technology in the energy sector will sooner or later take off, providing an eco-friendly alternative. The company is working in cooperation with the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (TEKES), Lappeenranta University of Technology, and VTT the Technical Research Centre of Finland. VTT facilitates cooperation with Fukuoka University in Japan, which is home to the world’s leading hydrogen research institute.