(Düsseldorf, Germany) – H2 Mobility Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, together with Rheinbahn AG and the Düsseldorf municipal utilities, has opened what it claims is "Europe's most powerful hydrogen refueling station." With a daily capacity of five tons, the facility offers significantly higher performance than conventional first-generation hydrogen refueling stations in Germany. This allows for the simultaneous refueling of three buses, trucks, cars, and light commercial vehicles at pressures of 350, 500, and 700 bar. The project was announced in March 2023.
A filling station in Düsseldorf is inaugurated (from left): Martin Jüngel (H2 Mobility CEO and CFO), Stephan Keller (Mayor of Düsseldorf), Mona Neubaur (Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of North Rhine-Westphalia), Julien Mounier (CEO of Stadtwerke Düsseldorf), Frank Fronzke (H2 Mobility CEO and COO), Annette Grabbe (Board Member of Rheinbahn), Dagmar Fehler (CEO of NOW GmbH). © H2 Mobility Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG
Until the Düsseldorf municipal utility company commissions a two-megawatt electrolyzer next year, the filling station will be supplied with renewable hydrogen in accordance with EU regulations (RFNBO). Starting in 2026, direct supply will be provided with hydrogen produced locally near the filling station. However, the electricity used to produce this hydrogen will not come from renewable energy sources, but rather from biogenic components of the municipal utility's waste incineration plant.
For Rheinbahn, which already has 20 hydrogen buses in its fleet, the new filling station in the immediate vicinity of the Lierenfeld depot is an important infrastructure foundation. "With its commissioning, we are optimally positioned in terms of infrastructure to refuel our hydrogen buses flexibly and efficiently and to use them reliably in scheduled service," says Rheinbahn Board Member Annette Grabbe. The vehicles have already proven themselves in daily use.
Funding was provided by the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) and the former Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV). The funding amounts to €3,13 million for the hydrogen filling station and €1,2 million for the electrolyzer. The state government of North Rhine-Westphalia also supports the construction of hydrogen filling stations for heavy commercial vehicles and market ramp-up initiatives such as "1.000 Fuel Cell Buses NRW" and "HyTrucks.NRW."
Photo above
For Rheinbahn, with its fleet of 20 hydrogen buses, the new filling station near the depot is an important infrastructure facility. © H2 Mobility Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG
