Don Quichote project: opening of the new hydrogen plant by Colruyt group

In 2009, the well-known book entitled “The Hydrogen Economy – Opportunities and Challenges” was used as a reference document for the establishment of the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative. In the preface of this book the editors wrote: “For a long time, hydrogen has been the fuel of the future. The coming decade will be critical to prove the commercial viability of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies."

There is no need to wait for a decade, 20 or 30 years. Today, 7 years after the publication of this book it is already possible to see, with the Don Quichote project, one way of deploying the hydrogen economy.

With these forewords, Jean-Luc Delplancke, Head of Operations at the FCH JU, introduced the new outcome of the FCH JU key project Don Quichote, which enabled the opening of a new integrated hydrogen plant, located on the Dassenveld site in Hal, Belgium.

Hosted by Colruyt Group, the plant is located where the group has a distribution centre. This plant has the aim of demonstrating the technical and economic feasibility of a hydrogen storage and transport system for green electricity, produced from wind farms and solar panels. The system is tested on tangible applications specific to logistics but also relating to mobility and global management of energy resources.


 

From left to right: Paula Abreu-Marques, Head of unit renewables and CCS policy at DG Energy; Jef Colruyt, CEO Colruyt Group; Jean Luc Delplancke, Head of FCH JU Operations unit


"Through this initiative, the group is seeking to participate in the development of a hydrogen market. With our partners, we believe in the establishment of a clean system drawing on renewable energy sources", explains Jef Colruyt, CEO of Colruyt Group.

J-L Delplancke also stated: "What can be seen here on the Dassenveld distribution center of Colruyt is a clear illustration of what an integrated hydrogen economy could be in the future. Using renewable energy sources (photovoltaic and wind energies) to produce hydrogen by water electrolysis (with two different technologies: alkaline and PEM water electrolysis), compressing and storing the produced hydrogen, dispensing hydrogen via a refueling station or re-electrifying the hydrogen via a fuel cell power unit will allow the Colruyt distribution center to illustrate how to become progressively independent from the electricity grid and autonomous in terms of energy production. This is also a very clever way to use electrical energy."

Storing renewable energies

In 2012, during the first hydrogen test within the context of the European Interreg IV project, Colruyt Group hosted the first hydrogen plant, in collaboration with WaterstofNet and Hydrogenics. Supplied by a wind turbine and solar panels, the intention was to test certain logistical applications equipped with a fuel cell.

The plant linked to the "Don Quichote" project has been joined to the existing installation. It will allow for the testing of the PEM electrolyser compared to the initial alkaline electrolyser, as well as doubling its production capacity. The station is also equipped with a 120 kW fuel cell, capable of reconverting hydrogen into electricity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Concrete applications

In terms of logistics, the plant can supply automotive equipment equipped with a fuel cell. To date, Colruyt Group has 11 pallet trucks equipped with such technology. By the end of 2016, the group will expand the fleet with 200 additional fuel cells.

In terms of mobility, the station supplies the Hyundai i35, tested during the last year by staff within the group. Additionally, DATS 24, the fuel supplier for the group and CNG pioneer in Belgium, is keeping a close eye on the developments, so that it can be ready for the presumed future transition from CNG to hydrogen.

Read the full press release here

Don Quichote website: http://www.don-quichote.eu/

See Don Quichote new videos here:

www.fch.europa.eu/image/don-quichote-colruyt-opens-2nd-hydrogen-plant

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