Bavaria presses ahead with plan for hydrogen centre

Bavaria is making progress with the development of a hydrogen technology application centre (WTAZ), including a 5-MW electrolyser, which will enable companies to develop, test and certify hydrogen technology products for mobility applications.

The Bavarian Council of Ministers has approved the purchase of a plot of land for the centre in Pfeffenhausen, in the Landshut district, the state's energy ministry said on Tuesday.

WTAZ plans to focus on the value chain for hydrogen and fuel cell technology for mobility applications from 2024 on. A 5-MW electrolyser is to start producing green hydrogen at the site in 2023.

Commercial vehicle manufacturer Daimler Truck AG (ETR:DTG) is already planning to use the centre to test the hydrogen-powered trucks that it is currently developing. The vehicles are expected to have a range of around 1,000 km (621.4mi).

Daimler Truck's decision proves the centre's importance for the ramp-up of hydrogen technology in mobility, said Bavaria's economy and energy minister Hubert Aiwanger. Hydrogen is a perfect alternative to fossil fuels, especially in heavy-duty traffic, and this is the only way to a successful transition to climate-neutral vehicles on the roads, according to Aiwanger.

The project was supposed to receive EUR 100 million in funding from the federal government but the amount was cut to EUR 72.5 million (USD 77.27m) last week. Bavaria will support the project with EUR 30 million.

The funds from the federal government will be used for the construction of the building and infrastructure as well as for the equipment and the initial financing of the operating costs.

The hydrogen centre in Bavaria is one of four national hydrogen centres planned across Germany. The other three centres will be built in Chemnitz, Duisburg and in the north of the country.