(Erfurt / Germany) – Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder presented funding certificates to the three winning regions of the second round of the "HyLand – Hydrogen Regions in Germany" competition in the "HyPerformer" category. The Rügen-Stralsund, Rhine-Ruhr, and Erfurt regions will now enter the implementation phase of their transport projects.
30 million euros for transport infrastructure
The Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) is providing investment grants of around €30 million for the procurement of hydrogen technologies in the transport sector. The projects cover the entire value chain – from production, storage, distribution, and refueling to the use of hydrogen in transport.
- The Rügen-Stralsund region Based on an established network of local stakeholders, an integrated hydrogen value chain is being developed. Funding enables applications in regional and freight transport; at the same time, the waste heat generated during hydrogen production is fed into a local district heating network.
- The Metropolregion Rhein-Ruhr The project leverages its urban structure and high population density to implement a large-scale hydrogen rollout. It combines the production of green hydrogen with a widespread network of refueling infrastructure for buses, municipal fleets, logistics vehicles, and passenger cars.
- For the Erfurt region The TH2ECO Mobility consortium will receive approximately €13,5 million in funding. The goal is the gradual conversion of heavy goods vehicles to emission-free propulsion systems and the development of a high-performance infrastructure encompassing hydrogen production, transport, and refueling. At the heart of the project is the construction of a hydrogen refueling station at the Erfurt Freight Village (GVZ). The station will feature 350- and 700-bar dispensers and be specifically designed for heavy commercial vehicles. Hydrogen will then be produced at two locations in Thuringia and subsequently transported to the GVZ. Simultaneously, infrastructure is being developed to enable a connection to the German hydrogen network in the medium term.
Back in April 2023, the Stralsund-Rügen, Rhine-Ruhr, and Erfurt regions were awarded the HyPerformer prize. However, following the Federal Constitutional Court's ruling on the Climate and Transformation Fund in November 2023, many funding programs had to be halted. The implementation of these projects has been on hold ever since.
Since 2019, the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) has been supporting regions in developing and implementing local hydrogen strategies through the "HyLand" program. The three-stage approach ranges from networking (HyStarter) and concept development (HyExperts) to the implementation of concrete projects (HyPerformer) for regional ecosystems encompassing applications, infrastructure, and hydrogen production. To date, 53 "HyPerformer" regions have received funding.
Photo above
The federal government is promoting hydrogen mobility: Transport Minister Schnieder (center) has presented the funding approvals. The picture shows the project partners of TH2ECO Mobility in Erfurt. © BMV / Woithe
