Hyundai Displays the ix35 ‘Fuel Cell Farm’
Hyundai has unveiled the Fuel Cell Farm – an aquaponics set up that uses the water emissions from an ix35 hydrogen fuel cell vehicle to grow food.
The uniquely designed arrangement aims to educate people about the real-life benefits of hydrogen fuel cell technology, demonstrating that the only emissions are pure water.
Deputy Mayor of London, Kit Malthouse, showed his support for the project by opening the Hyundai Fuel Cell Farm – which is the world’s first aquaponics ecosystem powered by a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. The Fuel Cell Farm is outside the front of the Design Museum in London for today only.
Kit Malthouse, Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Enterprise and Chairman of the London Hydrogen Partnership, said: “It’s an absolute pleasure to welcome Hyundai’s Fuel Cell Farm to London. This installation is an imaginative way to bring alive the huge potential of hydrogen technology and I encourage people to come along to the Design Museum to learn more about what could be the most exciting new industry of the 21st century.
Aquaponics is a sustainable farming solution; a combination of hydroponics (growing plants in water) and aquaculture (raising fish in tanks). The Fuel Cell Farm operates by taking the water emitted by the hydrogen-powered Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell and filtering this water into the fish tank. The aquaponics technology then harnesses minerals from the fish waste to grow the plants on the farm.
Essentially the Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell, which is the world’s first production fuel cell vehicle, is the heartbeat to the lifecycle of the installation. It powers and facilitates the functionality of the aquaponics farm, using clean emissions (only water) to fuel sustainable agriculture.
At the end of the day there will be a Fuel Cell Farm BBQ hosted by Rosie Boycott, Chair of London Food Board (for invited guests only). Hyundai has commissioned acclaimed eco-chef, Tom Hunt, to utilise the food that has been grown on the Fuel Cell Farm as well as other sustainably grown and sourced produce to create a one-off banquet.
Tom Hunt is the founder of the Forgotten Feast, working on projects throughout the UK to revive our cooking heritage and help reduce food waste. He is known for running his kitchens entirely waste free and for only using seasonal and organic products sourced within a 50 mile radius to create real communities through food.
As the first car company in the world to assembly line-produce fuel cell vehicles, Hyundai has accelerated London’s plans to become one of the major hydrogen capitals of the world and will soon be delivering five emission-free ix35 Fuel Cells to the Greater London Authority.
Two hydrogen fuel stations are already open in London – one of which has public access – with a third to come as part of the LHNE project.
