China's first hydrogen refuelling station and also BP's largest hydrogen transport project was opened in Beijing yesterday by BP and its partners, marking another step toward commercial application of hydrogen as a new energy resource for fuel cell vehicles (FCVs).

With a US$3.5 million investment from BP, the refuelling station is just a demonstration project, as the market for environmentally friendly FCVs is still a long way off.

The station is expected to provide first-hand experience in hydrogen fuelling and help build public awareness of emerging environmentally friendly technology, said Bill Fitzharris, general manager of Technology for Hydrogen for Transport, BP Plc.

"The first phase of the demo project is finished, targeted at accumulating experience for the actual operation and demonstrating of how hydrogen can be safe and environmentally friendly as an energy resource for fuel cell automobiles," Fitzharris said. "What follows next will start the second stage of the project, involving how we change the supply approach to hydrogen for the station next year."

Instead of delivering hydrogen from elsewhere, BP is supposed to reform natural gas at the refuelling station to produce hydrogen. Through that approach, logistics and storage costs will be avoided.

"The next phase will not change the refuelling capacity, but the way to get hydrogen," Fitzharris said. "We regard steam reforming as the most effective way to make hydrogen today."

Investment for the second phase of the project is included in the total US$3.5 million being poured into the refuelling station.

The current capacity of the demo station is based on six to seven working days per week of refuelling four fuel cell buses on a daily basis.

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