Solar-powered hydrogen fuel station opens despite cutbacks

[jpak]

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8770935?nclick_check=1

SACRAMENTO—A solar-powered hydrogen fueling station is officially open, just days after the state gutted rules designed to increase the number of hydrogen-powered cars on the road.

The station uses solar energy to separate hydrogen from water to power clean-fuel vehicles. Its solar panels produce 80 kilowatts of electricity, roughly enough to power 40 homes, or about 14 fuel-cell vehicles.

The station opened Tuesday as a joint venture between the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, British Petroleum, Ford Motor Company and the U.S. Department of Energy.

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[midnight]

1. Any one have a picture of how large a filling station is?

Is the size compariable to one of our old ecomomy gas stations?

[One_Life_To_Give]

2. 4400 square ft of PV panels

A quick back of the envelope calculation shows about 470.6 170Watt Polycrystaline PV panels would generate 80KW. With each panel taking 9.35 square feet of space. So an array of approx. 50 ft by 88ft or 4 times the area of a typical ranch house.

Since the array would only occupy 1/10th of an acre it wouldn't be a large facility compared to what you are accustomed to. On the other hand your local station probably averages almost 14 fill-ups per hour.