Free - receive our print magazine
The Hydrogen Journal news & articles Social network RSS news feed Hydrogen news on a map About The Hydrogen Journal Links to hydrogen energy websites Links to hydrogen energy events Contact us SISTER PUBLICATIONS
Carbon Capture Journal Digital Energy Journal Tanker Operator
BMW to use landfill gas to make hydrogen for forklifts
Applications, Aug 02 2011 (The Hydrogen Journal)
- Automotive manufacturer BMW has announced plans to run its forklifts from hydrogen produced from landfill gas, in its plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA.
It has launched the first phase of work to validate economic and technical feasibility of converting landfill gas into hydrogen. This first phase is funded by South Carolina Research Authority.
If future phases go ahead (to actually implement the system), the project team will include BMW, Advanced Technology International (a subsidiary of SCRA), the Gas Technology Institute, Ameresco, Inc., and the South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance.
BMW has been using landfill gas since 2003, with methane being collected, cleaned and compressed and providing over 50 per cent of the plant's total energy requirements. $12m was invested in the program in 2009. It saves about $5m energy costs annually.
Now the plan is to also use the methane to make hydrogen to directly power the forklifts.
BMW is already using fuels to power nearly 100 material handling vehicles in a 1.2m square foot assembly facility, where it produces the X3 Sports Activity Vehicle.
