The German Secretary of State has opened the first hydrogen (H2) filling-stations at the “Green Hydrogen Hub” (H2BER) in Berlin. For the first time, energy generated from wind and sun is being put to use across the electricity, heating and transport sectors. The project partners, including Total, McPhy Energy, Linde and 2G, are generating the hydrogen on-site via electrolysis.
In the context of a collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Transport and the industry, the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP), which is Europe's largest demonstration project for hydrogen and cell fuel technology, a network of 50 H2 stations will be created by the end of 2015.
In addition to servicing emission-free fuel cell vehicles, the operation of a block heat power plant with regeneratively produced hydrogen and its supply into the public gas network are also foreseen. The project therefore offers an opportunity to conduct research into the energy revolution as a single system. By 2016, the H2BER partner companies will invest more than €10m, of which €5m will be provided by the federal government.