Hydrogen filling stations at which hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles is produced emission free and on a needs basis are rare. With its pilot plant in Stuttgart, EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG wishes to assess whether such hydrogen filling stations for customers can be operated in an economically viable manner.

The company is also examining in Stuttgart whether hydrogen filling stations are generally suitable for use as dynamic consumers and/or for the storage of power from renewable sources. If so, hydrogen filling stations could then take on a second role as a storage facility and thereby help, for example, to relieve the electricity networks of excess supply during periods of high wind. The company has already been operating an hydrogen filling station in Karlsruhe, which is supplied with hydrogen from a large-scale plant via truck.

A connection to an energy source is a prerequisite for the production of hydrogen at the point of sale. The hydrogen filling station in Stuttgart was equipped with an electrolyser that, in future, can be controlled in proportion to the supply of renewable energy. The pilot plant will be publically accessible for 2.5 years after completion and can therefore be used by all fuel cell vehicle pioneers.

EnBW’s involvement in the establishment of a hydrogen infrastructure also supports existing climate policy goals: the state of Baden Württemberg is supporting a reduction in CO2 emission by 2020 of 27 %.

Funding Code
03BV227