Florida: Making Headway with Hydrogen

Another link was added this month to Orlando’s “Hydrogen Hub” with the opening of its second permanent hydrogen fueling station. Department Secretary Mike Sole joined representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy, Ford Motor Company, BP America and Progress Energy for the ribbon cutting at the Jamestown Operations Center. As part of a three-year project, the station will produce up to 12 kilograms of hydrogen gas each day, via electrolysis, to serve the six hydrogen fuel cell vehicles currently used by DEP and Progress Energy.

The hydrogen demonstration project began in September of 2005 as part of a U.S. Department of Energy initiative unveiled in 2004. The goals were to measure progress and identify any technical challenges that developed with the initial hydrogen-powered Ford Focus fuel cell vehicles.

Fueled by compressed hydrogen gas, the fuel cells produce electricity and unlike gasoline produced from fossil fuels, the only resulting emission is water vapor – no greenhouse gases or noxious fumes. Annually billions of dollars are invested worldwide in hydrogen technology by energy companies, automakers and oil companies hoping to make advances using hydrogen -- the most abundant element in the universe -- as a sustainable source of energy. Florida was selected as one of only three sites in the nation to demonstrate these emission-free vehicles.

DEP’s vehicles have logged more than 50,000 miles and 2,000 hours during the first two years of the three-year demonstration project. One of the three vehicles provides a pollution-free ride for park rangers during everyday operations at Wekiwa Springs State Park; the other two vehicles are used by DEP’s Central District for regulatory field inspections. Progress Energy currently uses three of the Ford Focus fuel cell vehicles at their Jamestown Operations Center.

The state’s first hydrogen fueling station, Boggy Creek, opened in Orlando in May 2007. Located near the Orlando International Airport, it fuels eight hydrogen-powered 12-passenger shuttle buses and provides the foundation of the ‘Hydrogen Hub’ and a test platform for showcasing the production, storage and dispensing of hydrogen fuel. The station produces about 100 kilograms of hydrogen per day.

At the “Serve to Preserve: A Florida Summit on Global Climate Change” in July 2007, Governor Crist signed groundbreaking Executive Orders representing his commitment to address global climate change, reduce Florida’s greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency and pursue renewable energy sources. The collaborative efforts of government and private industry are making Florida a leader in hydrogen technology while priming the market for cleaner and more sustainable sources of energy.