Taiwan’s first combined renewable biohydrogen workshop and hydrogen filling station was launched at Feng Chia University in the central city of Taichung Nov. 3.
After testing out a hydrogen car at the inaugural ceremony, Taichung Deputy Mayor Tsai Ping-kun said, “This completely nonpolluting concept vehicle marks a major step forward for environmental protection.”
The university stated that with the global problem of environmental pollution caused by traditional energy sources growing daily, the school decided in 1998 to begin developing biohydrogen energy technology in cooperation with the National Science Council and Bureau of Energy under the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
At the opening of the new facility, the university presented its research achievements in using microbial technology to transform agricultural waste biomass into fuel for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
The university said a hydrogen concept vehicle has been test driven on the campus for the past year, adding that the findings of this testing could be used for future hydrogen energy research.
Lee Bing-jean, vice president of the university, said the hydrogen fuel cell car produces only water vapor and no air pollutants and is therefore 100-percent environmentally friendly.
The university said that, with the support of the BOE’s Bioenergy Technology Research Center and the NSC’s International Cooperation office, it began operating the APEC Research Center for Advanced Biohydrogen Technology, and developed the hydrogen filling station and hydrogen vehicle in response to green initiatives advocated by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
It added that this technology will help to raise the international status of Taiwan and the university, and assist them in becoming international leaders in hydrogen energy research and development (R&D), through upstream and downstream technology integration and economic performance assessment.
