The Hydrogen Link network was established back in 2005 by Nordic Transportpolitical Network.
A Phase 1 of the project from March to October 2005 analyzed the possibilities for the building of a number of hydrogen filling station in Jutland and how these could be connected with hydrogen filling station networks in Norway, Sweden and Northern Germany. The result of the analysis was the identification of 8 possible locations for hydrogen demonstration filling stations in Jutland. Phase 1 also created contact to more than 100 companies and organizations in Denmark and the surrounding countries.
Hydrogen Link today is working towards becoming a national network for research, development & demonstration of hydrogen & fuel cell technologies for transportation with the purpose of advancing a Danish infrastructure of hydrogen filling stations and a widespread use of fuel cell vehicles, beginning with niche transportation and in long term road transportation. It is the aim for Hydrogen Link to be structured beneath the Danish Energy Authority's Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Platform as the main activity within transportation.
The network approach in Hydrogen is based on creating so-called triple helix network constellations where Authorities, companies and universities collaborates on solving research, development, demonstration (R/D/D) and market challenges of introducing hydrogen for transport fuel. The R/D activities are carried through in national and international projects with both technological and theoretical content. Pilot testing and demonstration activities and the connection with companies and grounding of R/D/D activities are happening around selected hydrogen filling station locations, the so-called H2 HUB's placed strategically in Denmark. Each H2 HUB is unique in the cense that R/D/D activities focuses on various technologies in the "Hydrogen Chain", depending on the knowledge and industrial competences in the local H2 HUB areas and the local energy infrastructure. At the moment 8 H2 HUB locations have been identified in Jutland and more locations are under identification in both Jutland, Fyn and Zealand with a target of having 10-15 H2 HUB's identified by year 2010.
As national R/D projects are carried through local pre-studies are done around each H2 HUB in order to plan the following pilot testing and later demonstration projects. Pre-studies are ongoing in 4 H2 HUB's and the first pilot project is under startup. It is the target to start up 5-10 pilot projects in different H2 HUB's towards year 2010. The gathered knowledge from the pilot projects in the different H2 HUB's are to be pooled together in 5 large H2 HUB demonstration projects around year 2010, where the filling station size is increased as well as the numbers of hydrogen vehicles around it. Each demonstration H2 HUB is expected to cost $5 million and the total cost on $25 million for all demonstration H2 HUB's is planned funded through a combination of European, National, regional, local and company funding. The demonstration projects therefore are to be carried through as part of a large EU Lighthouse Demonstration (LHP) project in Scandinavia in co-operation with other hydrogen infrastructure networks in Norway and Sweden. This Scandinavian co-operation goes under the name: "Scandinavian Hydrogen Highway Partnership" (SHHP) and consist of the three national hydrogen infrastructure networks in Norway (HyNor), Sweden (Hyfuture) and Denmark (Hydrogen Link). SHHP it to gather and align the networks in the three countries in a joint Scandinavian application for an EU Lighthouse demonstration project for hydrogen transport around 2010. www.scandinavianhydrogen.org
Opening of the first hydrogen filling station in Denmark is planned to happen in 2008 in a pilot project called "H2 HUB West Jutland" with support from the Danish Energy Authority.
Hydrogen Link Network