- The companies have participated today in a test of circulation and refueling of an H2 bus together with the authorities, operators and associations of Camp de Tarragona
- One of the objectives has been to explain the ease of use and safety of this technology aimed at decarbonizing the urban transport sector
Carburos Metálicos, a leading company in the industrial and medicinal gases sector in Spain that is part of the Air Products Group, and Solaris, a leading European company in urban buses and belonging to the CAF Group based in Guipúzcoa have shown this morning in Tarragona the potential of renewable hydrogen as a strategy to achieve a zero-emission urban public transport system, using a fuel cell bus powered by hydrogen.
This conference was attended by the mayor of Tarragona, Pau Ricomà, the president of the EMT, Jordi Fortuny, the delegate of the Government of the Generalitat, Teresa Pallarès, the sub-delegate of the Government, Joan Sabaté, local authorities, institutions, as well as social entities of the territory among other attendees, who have been accompanied by the general director of Carburos Metálicos.
Carburos Metálicos and Solaris have demonstrated the maturity of this technology and its potential as a key factor in the country’s energy transition and in the decarbonization of transport. The demonstration consisted of an interurban tour with a stop at the EMT facilities to refuel a portable hydrogenerator that has supplied renewable hydrogen produced in Tarragona.
The bus, with a capacity of around 90 passengers, is capable of covering the distance of 350 kilometers in urban routes with a single charge. Furthermore, unlike other electric mobility technologies for public transport, the hydrogen-powered bus can be fully refueled in just 8 minutes.
To do this, Carburos Metónicos has located a mobile hydrogenerator in the EMT garages that has made it possible to refuel this unit and demonstrate the ease and speed with which the tank is filled. For its part, Solaris has lent a mass-produced bus of the Urbino 12 hydrogen model, with which the demonstration and subsequent circulation test have been carried out.
Carburos Metálicos, present for more than 60 years in the Camp de Tarragona, is once again committed to this territory and produces renewable hydrogen (H2) that it supplies from this enclave. Promoting the implementation of this energy vector in the transport sector, both for people and goods, constitutes one of the company’s strategic lines of action. At the same time, it maintains its current ‘Third by’ 30 ‘commitment to reduce its CO2 emissions intensity by one third by 2030.
Solaris Bus & Coach has 25 years of experience dedicated to the design and manufacture, above all, of integral low-floor city buses, currently manufacturing more than 1,600 units per year. It is a leader in new technologies, introducing, for example, the first 100% electric bus 10 years ago. In 2019, it launched serial production of the hydrogen bus. 2021 will end with 70 buses of this technology circulating in some European countries, and, for now, in 2022 the manufacture of another 100 units is already confirmed.
A cleaner future
In the field of hydrogen, Carburos Metálicos works to build a cleaner future through technologies that help decarbonise sectors of the economy such as mobility. Coinciding with the celebration of the 26th United Nations Conference on Climate Change in 2021 (COP26), Air Products participates in the ‘Sustainability Innovation Forum’, which covers four thematic areas (Global Climate Action, Transition, Nature and Finance), and at the ‘Hydrogen Transition Summit’, focused on the benefits and commitments in making the hydrogen economy a reality.
Within the national scope, Carburos Metálicos supplies renewable H2 to the hydrogeneration located in Madrid capable of supplying H2 at 700 bar pressure, enough to refuel last generation vehicles. It has also participated with a hydrogeneration plant and the supply of H2 in the test that the City Council of Oviedo has carried out this year to establish the first urban bus line powered by renewable H2.
“As part of Air Products, a world leader in the production of hydrogen, we are experts in the entire hydrogen value chain and today we have been able to demonstrate that this technology is ready for use also in the field of mobility. Renewable hydrogen will contribute to decarbonize the economy and in this way, Tarragona will play a very relevant role for our country as a production and research center ”, commented Miquel Lope, general director of Carburos Metálicos.
“From Solaris, with the Urbino 12 hydrogen model, we offer a transport solution with zero emissions, silent, comfortable for passengers, quality, technologically advanced, with a daily procedure, loading times and autonomies similar to the conventional bus. A solution for the future, but now. In 2022 we will have more than 170 units circulating in cities in Europe ”, clarifies Kepa Mendikute, general director of Solaris Bus Ibérica.
Zero emissions in public transport
The Tarragona Municipal Transport Company (EMT) is looking for green and sustainable fuel solutions as a model for the future for its fleet. In this sense, hydrogen is in the sights of the company, which, in the words of its president, Jordi Fortuny, “is a very interesting option that allows us to achieve our goal: to achieve zero emissions on the bus network municipal public of Tarragona ”.
For this reason, EMT drivers are these days testing the hydrogen vehicle on real routes. The knowledge and experience acquired in the test will serve to determine the convenience of using this fuel in the city.
About Carburos Metálicos
Carburos Metálicos is a leading company in the industrial and medicinal gases sector that produces, distributes and sells gases for multiple sectors: metallurgy, glass, water, food, medicinal, energy, petrochemical, laboratories, freezing, refrigeration, oenology, leisure and beverages . The company provides a wide range of products, solutions and services to its customers, as well as materials and equipment for the applications of these gases.
Founded in 1897, Carburos Metálicos has been serving the industry of our country for more than 120 years and has always maintained a strong bond with society. Currently, it is a leader in the industrial and medicinal gases sector in Spain and a benchmark in the chemical sector in matters of safety, innovation and sustainability.
Carburos Metálicos has a team of more than 700 professionals in Spain, a daily production capacity of more than 1,200 tons of liquefied gas (mtpd), 12 production plants, 14 bottling plants, 2 high purity gas laboratories and a R&D center located in Bellaterra (Barcelona) serving more than 100,000 clients. Since 1995, the company belongs to the US group Air Products (NYSE: APD).
Air Products is one of the world’s leading industrial gases companies, where it has been operating for 80 years. The company supplies industrial gases and necessary equipment to dozens of manufacturing sectors, including the refining and petrochemical, metallurgical, electronics, or food and beverage industries. Air Products is also the world’s leading provider of liquefied natural gas technology and equipment. It also develops some of the largest gasification, CO2 capture and carbon-free hydrogen projects in the world to boost mobility and the energy transition.
The group posted sales of $ 10.3 billion in 2021 for its activities in more than 50 countries and currently has a market capitalization of around $ 65 billion. More than 20,000 diverse, passionate, committed and talented employees are guided by Air Products’ ultimate goal of creating innovative solutions that benefit the environment, improve sustainability and respond to the challenges faced by customers, communities and the world.
About Solaris Bus & Coach
Solaris Bus & Coach sp. zoo. is one of the leading European bus and trolleybus manufacturers. Benefiting from 25 years of experience and having manufactured more than 20,000 vehicles, Solaris influences the quality of urban transport in hundreds of cities across Europe, every day. Looking ahead, the company is setting new standards through the dynamic development of its products, particularly in the electromobility sector. Solaris electric buses, trolley buses and hydrogen buses are state-of-the-art solutions for zero-emission public transportation. Solaris products have been repeatedly awarded for quality and innovation. In September 2018, Solaris Bus & Coach sp. zoo joined the CAF Group .
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