It is the result of a cooperation spanning almost two years: Together with the administrative district Rhein-Kreis Neuss, the municipal utility companies Stadtwerke Düsseldorf and Wuppertaler Stadtwerke as well as Air Liquide, the cities of Düsseldorf, Duisburg and Wuppertal developed a joint vision of how hydrogen can contribute to climate protection and the creation of added value within the region. The consortium operating under the name of KOMPETENZREGION WASSERSTOFF Düssel.Rhein.Wupper strives to promote the use of hydrogen as fuel for vehicles, trains and ships and thus to be a role model for other industrial regions in Germany and Europe. The BBH group has provided comprehensive advice and assistance in the context of the project.

The four municipalities and three companies involved have responded to an invitation by the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalisation and Energy to apply for the title of a model municipality/region for hydrogen mobility (“Modellkommune/-region Wasserstoffmobilität NRW”). Today, the consortium submitted the detailed concept and a video. The development of the concept was funded by the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry for Economic Affairs.

“With its concept, KOMPETENZREGION WASSERSTOFF shows how hydrogen can contribute to implementing the transport transition in the region – in close cooperation with the municipalities, municipal companies and the industry. We are happy to have had the privilege of supporting this exciting project,” says Marcel Malcher, board member of Becker Büttner Held Consulting AG (BBHC), which headed the project consortium.

The project participants analysed the entire hydrogen value chain and derived specific paths for the generation, distribution and application of hydrogen in the area of mobility.

As regards generation, the focus is on waste-fed heating plants. Approximately half of the electricity produced by these plants is attributable to the biogenic share of waste based on renewable raw materials which is thus considered equivalent to renewable energy sources. When this green electricity is used to operate an electrolyser, climate-friendly hydrogen can be generated right at the heart of a city. In the future, it is intended to use also renewable energy plants for generating H2. In this respect, solar and wind energy installations that are approaching the end of their statutory subsidy period under the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) are of particular interest. For the continued operation of such plants, the production of hydrogen – organised at regional level – can be a profitable option and provide operators with prospects for the future.

In terms of the application of hydrogen, commercial vehicles, busses and special vehicles such as refuse collection vehicles are proving to be particularly suitable for hydrogen propulsion from both the technical and economic perspective. There is a high potential in the logistics sector including road, rail and waterborne transport. For the generation and application of hydrogen to go hand in hand, investments must be made in the refuelling infrastructure and hydrogen logistics.

Individual projects at various stages – from the very idea through to the implementation phase – are presented under the banner of “Hier.Heute.H2” (right here.right now.H2). More than 50 companies contributed their perspectives and ideas as well as the outline of the challenges they face to the preparation of the detailed concept.

For more information, please see the website of KOMPETENZREGION WASSERSTOFF at www.kompetenzregion-wasserstoff-drw.de.

The BBH group is a leading provider of advisory services for energy and infrastructure companies and their customers. Energy and supply companies, particularly public utilities, municipalities and local authorities, small and medium-sized companies, industrial companies and international groups are among its core clients. The BBH group advises these and many other companies and organisations in all legal matters and also assists them with business and strategic advice.

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Ines Zenke                                                  
Lawyer (Rechtsanwältin), Partner
Tel +49 (0)30 611 28 40 - 179                                  
ines.zenke@bbh-online.de                                    

Visit Becker Büttner Held online at www.die-bbh-gruppe.de, www.bbh-blog.de, twitter.com/BBH_online or instagram.com/die_bbh_gruppe.