Overview
The ‘H2POWER’ project targets air pollution resulting from the production and use of fuels in the transport sector. Notably this includes emissions of CO2 and other climate-related pollutants, which have increased over the last two decades, such as SO2, NOx, CO, ozone, benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, small particulates and lead. Studies indicate that transport is responsible for more than 25% of CO2 emissions and emissions from transport are rising at the fastest rate (+39% between 1990 and 2010 according to the last EEA forecasts). The use of hydrogen as a fuel is an environmentally and economically sustainable solution, promising an inexhaustible energy source. The technologies for hydrogen production from water are well-known and readily available. Renewable technologies can generate electricity to produce hydrogen from electrolysis with zero greenhouse gas emissions. This process can be implemented entirely on-site, thus avoiding transport costs typical of other kind of fuels, and allowing complete energy resource planning.
The general aim of the project is to develop a hydrogen/methane-fuelled city bus from a methane-fuelled bus. The project will be demonstrated in the municipality of Perugia and tested on the historic city’s urban and peri-urban routes (including the winding and extremely narrow streets typical of its historic centre).
Specific project aims are to:
- Test the feasibility of hydrogen-methane fuel on small public transport vehicles such as the “IVECO DAILY” in Perugia city and surrounding peri-urban areas;
- Develop and test a prototype, public transport vehicle, the IVECO DAILY SO C14, 16 KW 4 cylinders, that will have a hydrogen-methane fuel kit;
- Evaluate and report on improvements in the efficiency and environmental performance of the demonstration system;
- Progressively develop a public transport fleet made up of eco-friendly vehicles and provide supporting documentation in partnership with other local authorities;
- Ensure that the project findings are applicable to the European strategies and policies for sustainable urban mobility and to the needs and priorities of transport policy-makers.
Expected savings from the prototype hydrogen-methane powered bus are:
- A reduction of 30% in CO2 pollutant emissions from combustion processes; and
- A reduction in CO2 emissions coming from oil-based fuels (e.g. petrol) produced in refineries and of the pollution generated by the need to transport that fuel.