Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has won this year’s Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) Environmental Achievement Award in the large airport class for constructing the first retail hydrogen-fueling and generation station at an airport.
The 10,500-square-foot station opened in October.
Hydrogen is produced on-site by the application of electricity to water in order to separate hydrogen molecules from oxygen molecules. The oxygen molecules are vented to the atmosphere while the hydrogen gas is compressed and stored for dispensing to fuel-cell vehicles.
Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles emit zero pollutants.
Los Angeles World Airports Executive Director Kim Day said, “For over a decade, Los Angeles World Airports has been proud to embrace our responsibility to the environment by adopting clean-fuel technologies throughout our vehicle fleet.” She added, “We believe hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles and fueling stations such as the one at LAX are important elements to meeting California’s future energy needs.”
Currently, over 400, or more than half, of LAX’s vehicle fleet is comprised of alternative-fuel vehicles — including LNG-CNG (liquefied natural gas/compressed natural gas), electric and hybrid — and further expansion of the fleet is planned.
The $2 million hydrogen-fueling station at LAX is a joint project of BP, Praxair, LAWA, South Coast Air Quality Management District, California Energy Commission and the U.S. Department of Energy.
The station is being used to fuel hydrogen-powered demonstration cars supplied by a number of car makers. The facility also serves other Los Angeles City departments’ hydrogen-powered vehicles, and, in the future, will serve private customers and other public agencies.Los Angeles World Airports is a self-sustaining City of Los Angeles department that owns and operates four airports: LAX, Ontario International, Palmdale Regional and Van Nuys.
