The Linde Group has unveiled the world’s first hydrogen filling station for fuel cell-powered passen

The Linde Group has unveiled the world’s first hydrogen filling station for fuel cell-powered passenger ships in Hamburg, Germany.

Developed as part of a European Union-sponsored project to encourage the growth of fuel cell technologies, the station uses liquid hydrogen which is converted into gas and then compressed using a two-stage system up to a pressure of 450 bar.

The gas is used to fuel "Zemships" – zero-emission vessels that will carry up to 100 passengers across both the Alster and Elbe rivers.

Germany’s minister of transport, building and urban affairs Wolfgang Tiefensee was in attendance for the official unveiling of the fuel platform, which is located in a Hamburg city park.

Speaking at the launch, Linde’s Dr Aldo Belloni said: "As a pioneer in hydrogen technology, we want to make environmentally-friendly, hydrogen-based locomotion a reality in all areas. With this globally unique filling station, we are showing that hydrogen is well-suited as an emissions-free fuel for passenger ships."

The Linde Group is a gas and engineering firm with more than 50,000 employees worldwide that was created by the September 2006 merger of Linde and the BOC Group.