Networking constitutes an essential part of our work. Only with good cooperation and a mutually trustful exchange of know-how can future-oriented technology and smart measures be developed and implemented.
NOW is a networker. Appropriate and well-functioning networks represent the foundation of our work in programme implementation and the development of technology. We build and maintain networks in order to efficiently implement funding measures, particularly through the proximity to target groups, and to design funding frameworks together with strategically relevant stakeholders and develop technology strategies, also on an international level.
Below you will find an overview of the networks coordinated by NOW. Not all of them are open for participation. Please contact the responsible NOW networker if you interested in further details.
Innovation Cluster
Clean Intralogistics Net (CIN) is an alliance that currently comprises thirteen leading companies operating worldwide along the entire value chain of green intralogistics with fuel cells. The partners have set themselves the goal of achieving emission-free, more efficient and economical transport and handling of goods in industry, trade and at airports and ports through the utilisation of hydrogen.
With this common network, the partners aim to promote the use of fuel cell-powered industrial trucks, such as forklift trucks and pallet trucks. The associated hydrogen infrastructure is also always taken into consideration.
In order to bundle individual projects and contribute to achieving the breakthrough of this climate-friendly drive technology, the network focuses on the exchange of experience and the transfer of knowledge. The CIN also receives specialist support from its associated partner, the VDMA Association for Materials Handling and Intralogistics.
The network was established in 2016 and has been funded as an innovation cluster since 2017 as part of the National Innovation Programme Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP II) by the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport and supported by NOW GmbH.
Details on partners and projects can be found at: www.cleanintralogistics.net/?lang=en
The contact person at NOW is Sebastian Stoll,
Clean Power Net (CPN) is an open, cross-sector consortium of companies and research institutions along the entire value chain of fuel cell technology. The network focuses on the use of fuel cells for the reliable supply of power to industry and business, particularly for supplying and securing digital and critical infrastructures.
With numerous successful demonstration projects conducted in the first years of the network’s existence, the partners are currently working on the market introduction of environmentally friendly fuel cell applications. Typical early markets include telecommunications, security, railway infrastructure, measurement technologies, transport, distribution grids and the self-sufficient home.
Clean Power Net, which was established in 2010, currently comprises 19 partners. The ongoing exchange of experience between users and system manufacturers, along with the involvement of scientific institutions, ensures that continuous improvements are achieved and synergies are exploited. The CPN is funded by the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport as an innovation cluster within the scope of the National Innovation Programme Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP II), and is supported by NOW GmbH.
Details on partners and projects can be found at: https://www.cleanpowernet.de/en/
The contact person at NOW is Sebastian Stoll,
The aim of the e4ships project is to significantly reduce pollutant emissions by using climate-friendly fuel cells on ships. At the same time, questions regarding economic efficiency and the development of international safety standards and regulations will be answered. This is done by testing fuel cell systems on board seagoing ships. The project is funded by the Federal Government under the National Innovation Programme Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP).
In two demonstration projects under the leadership of MEYER WERFT and thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, the partners in the e4ships project have set themselves the task of developing fuel cell systems for seagoing ships to market maturity, implementing them and testing them under everyday conditions.
The e4ships project successfully demonstrated the use of fuel cells on ships. The tested systems offer the possibility of highly efficient combined heat and power generation on board ships. Compared to conventional systems powered by marine diesel or heavy fuel oil, significantly reduced noise and exhaust emissions have been demonstrated. Furthermore, the modular approach offers a flexible and safe arrangement on board. The findings of the project have been incorporated into the development of international regulations in order to enable the use of alternative fuels and fuel cells in international shipping in the future.
Working Groups & Networks
The Advisory Board has the task of providing both technical and content-related advice to management in programme implementation, in particular of the “National Innovation Programme Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology” (NIP). The Advisory Board is composed of representatives from federal and state politics, science, industry according to fields of application and representatives from the area of infrastructure.
AG Bus is a cross-ministerial working group between the BMDV and BMUV, which has existed since 2013/14. Participants include bus operators and research projects receiving funding support as well as manufacturers, suppliers and representatives from politics. The meetings primarily serve as a platform for the exchange of experience between bus operators. AG Bus is supplemented by an accompanying research consortium commissioned by the BMDV, which monitors the active buses and presents the evaluations at the meetings. Meetings usually take place every six months at alternating bus operator locations.
Contact: Oliver Hoch,
The CEP is an independent corporate initiative. Its 15 partners work towards a sustainable energy transition by activating the market for mobility with hydrogen and fuel cells. The partners include technology, mineral oil and energy companies as well as gas producers and automobile manufacturers. NOW supports the CEP at the crossroads of policy and the corresponding federal funding measures for the development of hydrogen technology.
In the leasing dialog process, an intensive exchange between policymakers, administrators, and the leasing industry is intended to improve the coordination of subsidies and leasing practices and thus increase the effectiveness of the use of government subsidies. In the context of the topic of framework conditions and market, leasing can thus become an important lever for the market ramp-up of electromobility.
- Contact at LeasePlan Deutschland GmbH: Matthias Nett,
- Contact at Mercedes-Benz Bank AG: Stefan Seitz,
- Contact at RCI Banque S.A.: Andreas Prinz,
- Contact at Volkswagen Leasing GmbH: Matthias Schaefer, ; Guido Linke,
- Contact at Allane SE: Matthias Birkle,
- Contact at Kazenmaier Fleetservice GmbH: Max Nastold,
- Contact at akf leasing GmbH & Co KG: Holger Büscher,
Contact at NOW GmbH: Juliane Reimer,
Other members: Hyundai Leasing, Ford Bank, Deutsche Leasing, ALD Automotive, Alphabet Fuhrparkmanagement GmbH, Athlon Germany GmbH, Daimler AG, Mercedes Benz Charter Way Rental, Santander Leasing, Sixt Leasing.
Neutral and supplier-independent information on the subject of leasing is provided by the Bundesverband Fuhrparkmanagement e.V. (Federal Association of Fleet Management).
The Dialogue of Associations, which takes place 1-2 times a year at NOW, is the primary platform for exchange between NOW and business, environmental and municipal associations, on the subject of clean, efficient mobility. NOW‘s partner in the implementation of this dialogue format is the German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (Deutsche Wasserstoff- und Brennstoffzellenverband).
Contact: Nina Posdziech,
At this biannual meeting held at the BMDV, the BMWI and NOW present and explain the current state of affairs at a federal level on the subject of charging infrastructure. Topics highlighted include political and legal measures being undertaken as well as support programmes provided by the BMDV and other ministries. Similarly, representatives of the state ministries responsible for charging infrastructure report on the current state of affairs regarding charging infrastructure on a local level. This also includes details on support measures being provided and the latest feedback from the regions with regard to federal activities. In addition, the federal-state government meeting also offers the states the opportunity to network their activities with each other.
Contact: Dominique Sévin,
The German fuel cell bus cluster serves the intensive exchange of experience between local transport companies that already operate fuel cell buses, are interested in them or want to get into the technology for the first time. The exchange focuses on the technical development of the vehicles, the current range of vehicles available on the market as well as the development of the necessary hydrogen infrastructure and last but not least the experiences from the operation of the buses. The cluster provides information that can be used to safely weigh up current and upcoming decisions in the transport companies. It meets every six months at one of its member companies.
Contact NOW: Ramon Henk,
The Fuel Cell Initiative (IBZ – Initiative Brennstoffzelle) is the competence centre for fuel cell heating systems for the supply of energy to homes. The core objective of the IBZ is to firmly establish fuel cell heating as an important pillar for the success of the energy transition in the heating sector. The IBZ is supported by Zukunft Erdgas and the Federal Association of the German Heating Industry (BDH – Bundesverband der Deutschen Heizungsindustrie). NOW is also a contractual partner of the IBZ.
Contact (at NOW): Erik Schumacher,
In the Länder AG Brennstoffzelle (State Fuel Cell Working Group), representatives of the responsible state ministries exchange information on current technological developments twice-yearly. NOW generally reports on the activities of the federal government.
- Baden-Württemberg https://www.e-mobilbw.de/
- Berlin https://www.berlin-partner.de/
- Hamburg: https://hysolutions-hamburg.de/
- Hessen: https://www.h2bz-hessen.de/start
- Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: http://www.wti-mv.de/
- Niedersachsen: https://www.energiecluster.de/de/projekte-und-aktivitaten/olec-arbeitskreise/arbeitskreis-wasserstoff#content
- Nordrhein-Westfalen: https://www.energieagentur.nrw/netzwerk/brennstoffzelle-wasserstoff-elektromobilitaet
- Sachsen: https://www.energy-saxony.net/
The DIN “Hydrogen Technology” working committee mirrors the international standardisation activities of the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and the CEN (Comité Européen de Normalisation) at a national level in Germany. It represents the German stakeholders from industry and research involved in standardization and in turn recommends German experts for the development and revision of relevant standards in the corresponding international working groups.
Contact: Elena Hof,
The GSG is an informal forum of the member states that are required to implement Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive 2014/94/EU (AFID). The group meets twice a year and also discusses other topics related to renewable fuels. NOW administers the secretariat together with the Dutch Rijkswaterstaat.
Contact: Jan Wegener,
IDACS is the title of a so-called Programme Support Action, a project for member states tendered by the Commission, which addresses data collection and the allocation of IDs for electric mobility stakeholders. NOW was commissioned by the BMDV as the implementing agency. Approximately three meetings are held per year.
Contact: Jan Wegener,
The International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE) is an international political committee of currently 19 member states plus the EU to promote hydrogen in the economy. The member countries exchange information on policy and the implementation of hydrogen fuel cell technologies and make relevant information available to the public on the IPHE website. NOW supports the BMDV in its committee activities.
The SGEC constitutes the operational framework for the German-Chinese cooperation between the BMDV and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, with NOW being responsible for its implementation. Above all, exchange and cooperation projects on electric mobility with battery and fuel cells are bundled in the SGEC. Interested and potential project partners can also contact the coordinators of the individual thematic fields directly.
Contact person NOW:
Jan Wegener (Programme Manager Europe)
E-Mail:
Phone: +49 30 311 61 16 303
The strategy group facilitates the regular exchange between the federal and state governments and also between the energy and business development agencies of the states within the scope of the local electric mobility funding guideline (Elektromobilität vor Ort). The meetings take place at the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport (BMDV).
Contact: Oliver Braune,
The STF is the expert body on alternative fuels and vehicles appointed by the European Commission. NOW regularly represents the BMDV in the STF, drafts documents and participates in discussions on its behalf. Approximately three meetings are held per year.
Contact: Jan Wegener,
Under the coordination of NOW GmbH, the Working Group Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Electromobility at Airports exchanges information on the electrification of the airport apron, the planning and preparation of infrastructure for electric flying and jointly implements projects for the introduction of new drive technologies. The major German airports, industry, research, aviation associations and state initiatives are represented. In addition to battery-powered airport buses and baggage tow tractors in large numbers, battery-powered ground power units, conveyor belts, cargo tow tractors, passenger stairs, cars and high loaders are also tested and used. Individual projects are concerned with emission reductions in the pushback of aircraft or the complete electrification of airport fleets.