In order to support the development of more climate-friendly hydrogen technology, last autumn the state of North Rhine-Westphalia organised a competition: “NRW model municipality/ region for hydrogen mobility”. The regions of Düsseldorf/ Wuppertal/ Rhein-Kreis Neuss, then Cologne with Brühl, Hürth and Wesseling, the Rheinisch-Bergisch district, and the Rhein-Sieg district, and finally the Steinfurt district were successful with their ideas and are receiving 1.1 million euros to develop detailed concepts.

The winning municipalities now have until the end of 2019 to persuade the jury of their concepts and become a North Rhine-Westphalia model region for hydrogen mobility.

The Federal Ministry of Transport and and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) also recently presented a funding approach which supports hydrogen mobility in a targetted way in the regions. The integration of hydrogen as an energy source is to be demonstrated in selected regions. Every region in Germany can become a hydrogen region, regardless of previous experience or lack thereof. The multitiered offer takes into account specific local requirements, resources and potential. The funding ranges from support in raising awareness of the issue and the inital organisation of the actor landscape, the establishment of integrated concepts and deeper analyses, right up to procurement of applications in order to implement the developed concepts. The funding is part of the National Innovation Programme for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology NIP 2, which is coordinated by NOW GmbH.

More information on funding of the hydrogen regions and to apply here.