Carburos Metalicos, a Spanish company specialising in industrial and medicinal gases and a member of the multinational Air Products group, has unveiled a new laboratory in Pobla de Mafumet, Tarragona, Spain. The lab focuses on ensuring the quality of hydrogen used in fuel cells, particularly aimed at enhancing the mobility of electric hydrogen vehicles. This novel facility will serve not just Metallic Carbides and Air Products but also the whole of Southern Europe.
The hydrogen utilized in fuel cells must adhere to ISO 14687, EN 17124 and ISO 21087 standards, necessitating periodic analytical methods to ensure the product’s quality and safety. After months of rigorous testing, the Carburos Metálicos laboratory and quality control team have chosen the analysers and procedures to meet the high-quality standards demanded by H2 Fuel Cell specifications. Operational since the end of February, this laboratory is the first of its kind within Air Products in Europe, conducting the necessary analyses required by any group subsidiary. It is also open to other firms requiring hydrogen analysis.
The hydrogen analysis lab, pivotal for improving the safety and efficiency of fuel cells powering various vehicles, will conduct analyses in a more cost-effective and agile manner. The facility at La Pobla de Mafumet will handle requests from Southern Europe, extending beyond the needs of Metallic Carbides and Air Products.
Carburos Metalicos proudly maintains the capabilities to produce, distribute and transport hydrogen to vehicle depots via its hydrogen generators. In proof of this, the company has conducted “real-use tests” over the past months, materialised through its Hydrogen Route, which, since 2021, has visited nearly 20 locations, including Oviedo, Bilbao, Tarragona, Valladolid, Zaragoza and Córdoba, among others.
Carburos Metalicos’ technology, including one of its hydrogen generators, powers Spain’s first urban bus line running on renewable H2, located in Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid. The company also plans to construct Tarragona’s first public hydrogen generation station throughout 2023.
As part of the Air Products Group, the world’s largest H2 producer involved in over 250 H2 service station projects across 20 countries since 1993, Carburos Metalicos aims to utilise its vast experience and technology in H2 to facilitate the energy transition. Miquel Lope, general director of Carburos Metálicos, emphasised the strategic significance of green hydrogen and the innovative laboratory in achieving this goal.
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