you are here:  »  The technology  »  The reformer

The reformer

An important part of the filling station is the reformer manufactured by HyGear. HyGear has been in business since 2005 and has received CE certification for its reformers for the European market. The reformer mixes natural gas (methane, CH₄) with steam and passes this mixture over a catalyst, producing hydrogen and CO₂. Although a reformer uses fossil fuel, reforming technology has been improved so much in recent years that eighty percent of the natural gas is utilised usefully.

Hydrogen can also be produced using solar and wind energy, but the efficiency of that technology is still only 20 percent.

The reformer at the filling station in Arnhem has an initial capacity of approximately 12 kg of hydrogen a day, which is enough to fuel the bus and four cars. Should there be an unexpected increased demand for hydrogen, the filling station can use a stock of hydrogen in cylinders, delivered by truck.