Initial situation and motivation: The mobility sector is emitting approximately 30 % of the overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Austria. Especially fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) powered by green hydrogen offer high GHG reduction potential for “long distance” and “all purpose” vehicles like large passenger cars, busses and trucks. Despite this high GHG reduction potential, the introduction of hydrogen mobility is developing slowly as the production numbers of vehicles are still limited, capacities for an economic production of adequate green hydrogen are not available, refuelling station network is still insufficient, and regulatory requirements for hydrogen refuelling stations (HRS) are challenging. All official HRS which are built or renewed after 18th of November 2017 have to fulfil the technical specification according to ISO 14687-2 and EN 17124. Up to now, these detection limits for the hydrogen quality cannot be met by an independent laboratory in Germany or Austria. Moreover, a measurement solution for official calibration of dispensed mass according to currently valid standards is still missing. Hence, a further upscaling of official HRS network is inhibited.

Goals and level of innovation: UpHy I facilitates the further expansion of the HRS network by developing solutions for official calibration of gas quality and dispensed hydrogen mass. A qualification for official calibration of the gauging office will be applied for. Hence, a goal of UpHy I is the development of advanced analytical methods to detect all desired hydrogen quality parameters (ISO 14687-2) directly from the dispenser. A further major goal is the development of a mobile mass measurement technique which is urgently needed for official calibration of dispensed mass at all HRS. In addition, concepts for upscaling scenarios of green hydrogen production by electrolysis as well as the corresponding logistics for distribution will be developed, which will serve a basis for the follow up project UpHy II. For logistics a modular HRS consisting of a 300 bar trailer refilling hub and a 350 bar refuelling infrastructure for busses and trucks will be developed and optimized. Furthermore, the gas quality testing of the overall hydrogen value chain from production over distribution to the HRS will be performed with respect to the new standards.