Results from another HyStarter region were marked with the presentation of a final report in Kulmbach. They come at the end of a year of technical and organisational support to develop a regionally tailored hydrogen concept and to form a network for local hydrogen players.
Since January 2022, the Kulmbach district has been developing concepts and visions for a regional hydrogen economy in the year 2030. Led by a consortium, this has been undertaken in the framework of strategy dialogues with companies, institutions and scientific facilities.
The supervising consortium for the HyStarter category is comprised of the companies ‘Energy Engineers GmbH’, ‘Spilett new technologies GmbH’ and ‘Nuts One GmbH’.
Also attending the hydrogen event, Prof. Dr. Raphael Lechner and Raphael Stautner from the Institute for Energy Technology, OTH Amberg-Weiden played a major role in the Kulmbach district’s successful application.
Now the final report has been presented in July to the district at the event. In addition to H2 potentials in the Kulmbach region, recommendations for action and implementation strategies were also outlined and discussed.
This network of H2 players has not only developed strategies, it also has already begun to implement some projects.
“Here in our district, a major field of application for hydrogen (H2) and fuel cells (FC) is considered to be the area of heavy commercial vehicles”, says District Administrator Klaus Peter Söllner. “The construction of a H2 refuelling station for trucks and cars is regarded by all participants as a critical location factor. A project outline was submitted for funding to Bayern Innovativ in March 2022 and in the second round in October 2022, the Bavarian Economic Ministry positively evaluated our project outline for the H2 refuelling station (trucks and cars). This means that we can expect a H2 refuelling station in the Kulmbach district by the middle of 2025.”
Presenting the regional report, Ramon Henk, Team Leader for Mobility and Components at NOW (National Organisation Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology), praised the commitment of the district that according to Henk, is one of the flagship regions in the HyStarter consortium.
Nils Werner from consortium partner Nuts One GmbH, who presented the content of the regional report, clarified the scope of the topics to be developed, from the expansion of renewable energies for H2 generation, to application fields in road and rail transport, to raising awareness and developing qualifications in vocational schools. According to Werner, the district has nevertheless a strong network that is willing to implement, equipping it for tackling the remaining tasks that lie ahead.
Other H2 players also made short contributions at the event, including on the digital H2 energy use plan, the development of a H2 refuelling station infrastructure, H2 local heat supply as well as Dr. Ing. Andy Gradel (BTX-Energy) on the production of hydrogen from biogas.
“The event was deliberately named ‘Hydrogen Meeting Point’ because the presentation of the final report is not intended to mark the end of the process”, says Climate Manager Ingrid Flieger. “Instead we want to build on what we have achieved and continue to work in a targeted and consistent manner to be able to successfully deliver our vision for 2030 for the Kulmbach district.”
Photo(Kulmbach district) l-r: Harry Weiß (Chairman Sparkasse Kulmbach-Kronach), Prof. Dr. Raphael Lechner, Raphael Stautner (both Institute for Energy Technology, OTH Amberg-Weiden), Rainer Herold (MSR-Innovations/ H2KU GmbH), Florian Schneider (ASK Kulmbach/ H2KU GmbH), Ingrid Flieger (Climate Protection Manager, Kulmbach district), District Administrator Klaus Peter Söllner, Nils Werner (Nuts One GmbH), Ramon Henk (NOW – National Organisation Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology)
Source of original release: Kulmbach district