Dépêches

San Francisco International Airport Going Greener with Linde Hydrogen

Dépèche transmise le 28 mai 2009 par Business Wire

MURRAY HILL, N.J. & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--San Francisco International Airport, already one of the world’s most environmentally conscious airports, is about to get even greener. By 2010, the Airport will be home to a hydrogen fueling station, designed and installed by Linde North America.

Linde North America is a member of The Linde Group, a leading gases and engineering company and one of the world’s largest hydrogen producers. SFO is the Bay Area's largest airport.

The station will be one of the stops along California’s growing Hydrogen Highway and will be open to drivers of fuel cell vehicles who live in or pass through northern California. Hydrogen from the station also will be used to fuel a fleet of SFO’s shuttle buses as well as the demonstration of San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority’s hybrid transit bus which uses hydrogen fuel cell battery and low sulfur biodiesel technology.

Note: Media are invited to attend an event from 2:15 to 3:30 p.m. today to dedicate the planned station. The event is one of 28 stops along Hydrogen Road Tour 2009 and will include a convoy of fuel cell powered vehicles traveling from the California/Mexico border to Vancouver, British Columbia. The event also will include brief remarks from organization representatives and elected officials.

Mike McGowan, head of hydrogen solutions, Linde North America, said, “For the past decade, Linde has been focused on finding ways to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions. By teaming up with SFO and our other partners, Linde is uniquely qualified to deliver a hydrogen refueling system that is safe, reliable and will show people how beneficial and practical hydrogen powered vehicles can be.”

“At the heart of the station is the Linde MaxFueler 90, a dispensing system whose fast-fill technology makes hydrogen fueling quick and easy, creating a similar experience to what motorists now get at their local service station,” McGowan said.

The project is partially funded by a $1.7 million grant from the California Air Resources Board (ARB).

John L. Martin, Airport director, said, “The development and installation of a hydrogen fueling station at SFO is just a further extension of the Airport’s commitment to being a good steward of the environment. Whether it be the expansion of solar or wind energy systems, the continued use of CNG and biodiesel fueled vehicles, or being part of cutting-edge systems such as hydrogen fueling facilities, SFO is fully committed to reducing its carbon footprint in our community.”

ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols said, “Thank you to the leaders of San Francisco Airport for supporting this new technology. It will assure that others can embrace fuel cell vehicles with the same ease we enjoy from petroleum engines, thereby increasing the state’s energy and economic security.”

Linde also will supply hydrogen for the adjacent Hythane station, which is set for completion by early 2010. Hythane^® is a blend of natural gas and hydrogen, often thought of as a bridge technology to pure hydrogen vehicles. “Hythane^® fuel will be used for 27 airport shuttle buses, providing emissions reductions across a respectably-sized fleet,” said John Nadeau, business development manager of the Hythane Company.

Other project partners include: San Mateo County, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Propel Fuels and automakers GM, Daimler, Toyota, and Hyundai.

About Linde

Linde, one of the earliest entrants into the hydrogen energy arena, is a leader in the safe production, liquefaction, storage and distribution of hydrogen. Linde is the world’s only company with the in-house technology to fuel gaseous or liquid hydrogen regardless of the mode of on-board storage.

Linde has equipped over 70 hydrogen fueling stations in 15 countries, supplying hydrogen for projects large and small. Amounts supplied range from a few hundred cubic feet of compressed hydrogen in cylinders to thousands of tons of liquid and gaseous hydrogen delivered by tank truck or pipeline.

The Linde Group is a world leading gases and engineering company with almost 52,000 employees working in around 100 countries worldwide. In the 2008 financial year it achieved sales of EUR 12.7 billion (USD 15.9 billion). The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards sustainable earnings-based growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services.

Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment – in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.

For more information, see The Linde Group online at http://www.linde.com

About SFO

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers non-stop links with more than 30 international points on 25 international carriers. The Bay Area's largest airport connects non-stop with more than 65 cities in the U.S. on 20 domestic airlines. For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps and details on shopping, dining, cultural exhibitions, ground transportation and more, visit www.flysfo.com. SFO was voted “North America’s Best Airport” in 2008 by passengers for its outstanding customer service and amenities.