Its history [ Return towards  Hydrogen  ]

Hydrogen made its appearance in the universe 4.5 billion years ago. But it was only discovered in the eighteenth century. Its industrial production and applications would follow.

  • 1766: Henry Cavendish recognizes hydrogen as a distinct substance.
  • 1778: Antoine Lavoisier names this “inflammable particle” hydrogen.
  • 1799: Philippe Lebon discovers lighting with “hydrogen gas”.
  • 1842: William R. Grove builds the first fuel cell laboratory model.
  • 1898: James Dewar liquefies hydrogen.
  • 1953: Francis T. Bacon develops his first fuel cell prototype

Air Liquide and hydrogen

  • 1961: Air Liquide joins the European space program.
  • 1967: Air Liquide builds its very first hydrogen liquefaction unit.
  • 1973: Air Liquide starts up its first major hydrogen production unit in Isbergues (France) and installs its first 30-km hydrogen pipeline.
  • 1979: First flight of Ariane I: Air Liquide delivers 143 tanks for this program.
  • 1987: Air Liquide builds the firs hydrogen liquefaction unit in Europe, in Waziers (Nord department of France) and handles supplies for the Ariane program.
  • 1988: Air Liquide and EADS create Cryospace to make tanks for Ariane V.
  • 1991: Air Liquide operates its first large-capacity hydrogen production unit: 10,000 Nm3/hr. It extends its hydrogen network to a third country the Netherlands and creates Air Liquide Spatial Guyane to supply hydrogen and oxygen to the Ariane launchers.
  • 1997: Air Liquide operates 800 km of hydrogen pipeline, sets up its first production unit in Rotterdam (Netherlands) and its first production unit in Freeport (USA, Texas). Air Liquide develops two hydrogen pipeline networks in Texas (USA): Corpus Christi and Freeport.
  • 1999: Air Liquide installs its first hydrogen production unit in Asia (Thailand).
  • 2001: Air Liquide creates AXANE, its subsidiary that now develops fuel cells.
  • 2003: Air Liquide sets up its first unit in Singapore and two units in Korea (Yosu).
  • 2002 and 2004: Jean-Louis Étienne uses a AXANE 0.5 kW fuel cell during his Pack Ice Mission and a 2.5 kW fuel cell during the Clipperton Expedition.
  • 2004: Air Liquide launches in Antwerp (Belgium) and El Segundo (USA) its first very large-capacity hydrogen production units: 100,000 Nm3/hr.
  • 2006: Air Liquide launches the European Hychain-Minitrans program to develop and test small urban hybrid vehicles using fuel cells.
  • 2007: Air Liquide develops its first hydrogen distribution stations for the automobile market.
  • 2007: Air Liquide acquires LURGI, a specialist in engineering and the construction of hydrogen production units, among others.
  • 2008: Over 7,000 hours of continuous functioning in a real-life situation for an AXANE fuel cell.
  • 2008: Air Liquide decides to invest in a new 130,000 Nm3/hr. production unit in Antwerp (Belgium).

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