A SCOTTISH company has delivered the first hydrogen refuelling station in Europe using a fuelling method that can make vehicles powered by the superfuel cheaper to run.

Edinburgh-based Logan Energy installed the renewable refuelling station at IZES – the research institute of the Saarland University of Applied Sciences for Engineering and Economy – in Saarbrucken, Germany. It is Europe’s first to use a high-pressure (700bar) potential future filling protocol known as MC, which is said to deliver a more “complete fill”.

The device calculates the appropriate fuelling speed and ending pressure of a variety of vehicles, which results in a more cost-effective method of refuelling all types of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

Vehicles with 700bar hydrogen storage have an equivalent driving range and refuelling time to fossil fuel cars, are capable of travelling up to 400 miles on a single, three-minute fill, as well as creating a comparable zero-carbon driving experience for users.

“Designing and supplying hydrogen refuelling stations that adopt the MC Filling method presents a fantastic opportunity to lay down a blueprint for alternatives to automotive infrastructures driven by fossil fuels,” said Logan Energy’s CEO, Bill Ireland.

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“A universally agreed and recognised fuelling method will be essential to hydrogen powered vehicles becoming part of our everyday lives. This project with IZES is a real indication of the commercial maturity we’re beginning to see in hydrogen technologies and will provide a roadmap for communities across the world to transition to renewable, hydrogen-based energy solutions.

“Our goal at Logan Energy is to lead the global road to decarbonisation and we believe that hydrogen is ideally placed to be a significant and, importantly, commercially viable energy solution for the future.”

Dr Bodo Groß, head of technical innovations department at IZES, said: “Our collaboration with Logan Energy will play a vital role in our mission to develop the sustainable energy solutions that support alternative transport infrastructure and will benefit communities across Europe and beyond.”