fisikon

HYDROGEN AND BIOMETHANE

DEPA Commercial is a founding member of the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance (ECH2A) and was previously holding the position of Co-Chair of one of the six roundtables. The European Clean Hydrogen Alliance was set up in July 2020 to support the large-scale deployment of clean hydrogen technologies by 2030. It brings together renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production, demand in industry, mobility and other sectors, and hydrogen transmission and distribution. Its members come from industry, public authorities, civil society, and other stakeholders.

DEPA Commercial is also a member of the European Hydrogen Association (HYDROGEN EUROPE), participating in all major working groups and following closely the developments in the field of hydrogen. The association is based in Brussels and represents more than 400 entities (industrial companies, research organizations and national associations) that are active in the field of hydrogen and fuel cells. DEPA Commercial has set up a dedicated department which aims at expanding its activities in alternative and cleaner fuels and at becoming a frontrunner when it comes to deploying zero-emission solutions for energy production.


Hydrogen Re-Fueling Station


Due to the increasing importance of hydrogen in Europe’s future energy mix, DEPA Commercial has an interest in developing the necessary framework and establishing business cases for hydrogen’s commercialization. Using hydrogen as a fuel in the mobility sector offers various benefits due to its gaseous form and the way it is dispensed (similarities with already existing Refueling Stations/CNG).

In this regard, DEPA Commercial is part of the consortium of the LIFE GREENH2ORN project that recently was notified by the European Commission.


LIFE GREENH2ORN


The LIFE GREENH2ORN project is a pioneering initiative aimed at advancing sustainable urban mobility through the integration of green hydrogen technologies. With a focus on Kozani, Greece, the project seeks to develop a comprehensive hydrogen refueling station (HRS) and support the deployment of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) across the region.
Key components of the project include the installation of a 500-kW electrolyzer, which will produce green hydrogen using renewable energy sourced from DEPA's photovoltaic parks. The HRS facility will have the capacity to refuel a diverse fleet of vehicles, including municipal buses, garbage trucks, and passenger cars with a rate of 200 kg H2/day. This infrastructure will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also serve as a model for other cities aiming to transition to cleaner energy solutions.

The total investment for the project is approximately 5,000,000 € and the EU contribution is 3,000,000 € (60%). The electrolyzer will produce sufficient hydrogen to support a fleet that includes:

  • 4 garbage trucks for the Municipality of Kozani
  • 2 city buses for Kozani Municipal Buses
  • 6 passenger cars for the Region of Western Macedonia
  • Additional vehicles such as heavy-duty trucks and ambulances.

DEPA Commercial plays a crucial role in the LIFE GREENH2ORN project by providing the necessary renewable energy through its photovoltaic parks and investing in the hydrogen production infrastructure. This support ensures the project’s sustainability and sets a precedent for future green hydrogen initiatives in Greece.

Upon successful implementation, the project aims to extend its sustainable mobility plan to other regions, promoting the widespread adoption of hydrogen-powered transport. The expected outcome is a significant reduction in urban emissions and the establishment of Kozani as a leading city in green energy transformation.

DEPA Commercial has identified the importance of technology diversity when it comes to achieving European climate goals. As such, the company strives at expanding activities across all fields of operation in order to pay its contribution to the just transition into a greener future.


Biomethane


A comprehensive, reliable supply of renewable energy and the ability to produce regenerative fuels such as bio-LNG and bio-CNG are key to decarbonization and energy transition efforts. DEPA Commercial, through the biomethane project, is going to take advantage of greener technologies and will lead the market in the Greek region through the process of upgrading excess quantities of crude bio-gas, it’s conversion into high-purity bio-methane and finally its compression to bio-CNG. This will open new market opportunities on biofuel as well as minimize DEPA Commercial’s environmental impact. DEPA Commercial’s goal is to act as the operator and as a bio-methane producer.
In order for DEPA Commercial to become more familiar with the technology and to have all the necessary data to evaluate its activities in this sector, it proceeded with the design and implementation of a pilot project for upgrading biogas to biomethane at an existing biogas plant. As part of the biomethane pilot project DEPA Commercial plans to upgrade the biogas to biomethane, then compress and store it, with the aim of further utilizing it as a transportation fuel (bio-CNG) through its distribution at FISIKON fueling stations or to consumers in areas remote from the natural gas network, with the potential for future injection into the gas network.