With the start-up of a comprehensive test that includes the production of low-emission hydrogen, a compression and storage system, a service station and a public transport bus for 50 passengers, the first mobility operation began with hydrogen in Bogota.
The operation, which will initially take place for eight years in the Integrated Public Transport Service (SITP), seeks to evaluate variables related to the hydrogen production system and vehicle performance, as well as commercial and technological aspects of the use of this energy source. It is also expected to disseminate with the academy the knowledge that arises from this pilot.
To carry out the test, a PEM (Protone exchange membrane) technology electrolyser was purchased, with an installed power of 165 kW and a production capacity of more than 23 tons of hydrogen per year.
The energy comes in a first phase, from the National Interconnected System (SIN) with REC certification, which determines that its origin is exclusively from renewable sources, and in a second phase that will begin in the second half of 2023, it will come from a system of more than 2,000 solar panels of approximately 1MW for the production of green hydrogen.
A hydrogen generator is also used, which is a system to dispense energy, with the capacity to tank the bus in less than 10 minutes. In addition, at the loading site there is a cylinder storage system with a capacity of up to 140 kg.
The bus, which will transport more than 98,500 passengers a year, was assembled in Colombia by more than 100 professionals and technicians who participated in the process. It includes a fuel cell and a battery; the battery consumes hydrogen to generate electricity.
The vehicle has a range of more than 450 kilometers with a single charge per day and can reach a maximum speed of 90 km/h.
For the development of this pilot, FENOGE, an entity attached to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, contributes $9,000 million, the Ecopetrol Group contributes $8,800 million and Fanalca is associated with more than $4,200 million. Green Móvil will carry out the operation and will maintain the bus, and Cenit will be in charge of the operation and maintenance of the hydrogen production and storage system.
In the coming months, the bus begins a certification and homologation process with the Ministry of Transportation, and the link to Transmilenio, to begin providing the service during the second half of 2023.
The mobility park, where the integrated hydrogen production, storage and service station system is located, is located in the facilities of the Green Mobile Logistics Center, in the town of Fontibón, in Bogotá.
The start of the integral operation of the sustainable mobility pilot was attended by the Minister of Mines and Energy, Irene Vélez; the Minister of Transportation, Guillermo Reyes; the mayoress of Bogotá, Claudia López; the director of FENOGE, Juan Camilo Vallejo; the president of the Ecopetrol Group, Felipe Bayón; the president of Fanalca, Joaquín Losada, the manager of Transmilenio, Orlando Santiago; the general manager of Superpolo, James Posada; the general manager of Green Móvil, Víctor Córdoba, local authorities, journalists and workers from allied entities.
