We are committed to helping our customers improve their sustainability performance, reducing our environmental impacts, and supporting our employees, communities and stakeholders.
We have a dream for the future and through our actions, we are making our dream a reality. I can assure you of our continuing commitment and dedication to stand together and work together to make a difference for our world.
Seifi Ghasemi, Air Products Chairman, President and CEO
Here are some recent examples that show how we are putting our sustainability commitments into action.
December 2022
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Train Demo in Poland Follows Successful Hydrogen Bus Demo
Air Products is providing hydrogen and mobile fueling infrastructure for Poland’s first ever hydrogen-fueled train demonstration. For the demonstration, scheduled to begin in December, a hydrogen-powered shunting locomotive, provided by Pesa Bydgoszcz, operated on the test track of the Railway Institute in Żmigród, Poland.
The train demonstration follows a successful pilot of a hydrogen-powered city bus carried out in March 2022 by bus manufacturer Solaris, Air Products, PKM Jaworzno and city authorities. Jacek Cichosz, president of Air Products for Poland, said he hoped the bus demonstration would inspire other entities throughout Poland to consider hydrogen as part of their shift to low or zero emission vehicles for public transportation.
“The planned hydrogen locomotive demonstration is an exciting undertaking for both Pesa and Air Products. The recent hydrogen fuel cell bus demonstration in Jaworzno was a concrete example of how clean hydrogen can be an effective and efficient alternative to traditional fuels for heavy duty transport,” said Cichosz.
The Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen bus tested by PKM Jaworzno is a completely emission-free vehicle. Electricity is generated from hydrogen stored in tanks on the roof of the bus using a hydrogen fuel cell. The only by-product of this reaction is water vapor. In Jaworzno, over 80 percent of residents use buses, according to Pawel Silbert, Mayor of Jaworzno.
July 2022
Increasing Our Commitment to Sustainability
The industrial gas industry is energy intensive, and as a result, generates carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. For decades Air Products has improved the energy efficiency of its facilities and thereby reduced the CO2 emissions intensity of its operations. These efforts, as well as several already announced major hydrogen energy projects, support Air Products’ “Third by ‘30” CO2 emissions intensity goal that was made public in 2020. In July 2022, Air Products announced additional new goals in furtherance of its commitment to improving sustainability, including:
•Expanding our “Third by ‘30” goal to include Scope 3 emissions
•Setting a new goal of reaching net zero emissions from operations by 2050
•Committing at least $15 billion through 2027 to invest in clean energy projects to spur the energy transition
•Engaging with the Science Based Targets Initiative on the development of the chemical sector framework
•Providing future climate benefits from hydrogen projects that will avoid more than 500 million tonnes of CO2e over their lifetimes*
Many organizations have committed to reach net zero emissions or climate neutrality by 2050. Air Products’ commitment was established after careful consideration of many factors. For example, Air Products has already taken key steps towards net zero with major energy transition projects that will produce zero or low carbon hydrogen. In fact, by 2050 Air Products expects that most, if not all, of its hydrogen will be produced at zero or very low carbon plants. The Company also plans to continually increase the use of renewable electricity and is converting its fleet of 2,000 trucks to hydrogen fuel cell zero-emissions vehicles.
*Assumes all hydrogen is used for the heavy-duty truck market
June 2022
Employees Engage on Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging
In May, Air Products held its second annual global Week of Inclusion where employees participated in sessions on diversity, inclusion and belonging. The event grew out of the company’s commitment to and involvement with the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion™ through which nearly 2,000 business leaders, including Air Products’ Chairman, President and CEO Seifi Ghasemi, have pledged to take action in support of a more inclusive workplace. The week included activities aligned with Air Products’ goal to be the most diverse industrial gas company in the world, which is supported by the Company’s targets to achieve at least 28 percent female representation, and at least 30 percent minority representation in the U.S., in professional and managerial roles by 2025.
To support Air Products’ female diversity goal, the Company continues to grow its global population of women in professional and managerial roles even as some worldwide locations traditionally have smaller female applicant pools. One example is Air Products’ Female Engineer and Technical Apprentices (FETA) program in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that was launched in May. Through this program, participants experience a range of tailored job rotations, hands-on learning, as well as professional and technical development opportunities within Air Products.
May 2022
A First of Firsts for Hydrogen in China
In mid-April, Air Products’ China team completed the first hydrogen fueling at its first hydrogen fueling station in China. The new hydrogen fueling station (HRS) is strategically located in the Changshu High and New Technology Industry Development Zone, and is located in the Shanghai led "Fuel Cell Vehicle Demonstration City Cluster," which was approved by the central government. The HRS supports the transition to zero-emission logistics and public transportation in the region and enables Air Products to contribute its expertise and technologies to drive development of hydrogen energy in the city and surrounding areas. The station will serve three public bus routes and logistics trucks in the development zone.
Jerry Hu, China Hydrogen for Mobility general manager, noted that, "Sustainability is at the heart of Air Products' business. The commissioning of the Changshu HRS is another milestone to accelerate the development of our hydrogen for mobility business and support the China government's ‘dual carbon’ goals.” Hu also thanked the team for making the first fueling at the station a success, indicating the HRS enables Air Products to “continue to support the city's clean hydrogen development to reduce vehicle emissions in a sustainable way."
April 2022
Net-Zero Hydrogen Energy Complex in Canada
Eric Guter, Air Products’ Global Vice President – Hydrogen for Mobility, recently was interviewed by Edmonton Global at the Canadian Hydrogen Convention about the company’s planned Net-Zero Hydrogen Energy Complex that will be built in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Air Products and its subsidiary, Air Products Canada, Ltd., in conjunction with the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta, last year announced a multi-billion dollar plan to build a landmark new net-zero hydrogen energy complex that will make Edmonton the center of western Canada’s hydrogen economy and set the stage for Air Products to operate the most competitive and lowest-carbon-intensity hydrogen network in the world.
The project, announced last year, will begin with a transformative $1.3 billion net-zero hydrogen production and liquefaction facility and is expected to be onstream in 2024.
Guter’s complete interview with Edmonton Global is available for viewing on Air Products’ YouTube page.
To view Edmonton Global’s complete coverage of the Canadian Hydrogen Convention, visit Edmonton Global’s YouTube page.
December 2021
The Role of Hydrogen in the Clean Energy Transition
Eric Guter, Air Products’ Vice President, Hydrogen for Mobility Solutions, recently joined John Rossant, CEO of CoMotion, on stage at CoMotion LA for a keynote discussion on the role hydrogen will play in the clean energy transition.
CoMotion LA was a three-day gathering of leaders from across the landscape of the emerging mobility market, including mayors and policymakers, leading technologists, public transportation operators, venture capitalists, start-ups and industry leaders.