MUNICH—As the IAA Mobility show gears up, Bavaria is hitting the accelerator on its hydrogen strategy. The state’s funding initiative for hydrogen refueling stations is entering its latest phase, set to kick off tomorrow, September 7th.
Bavaria’s Economics Minister, Hubert Aiwanger, laid it plain: “Our funding program tackles the chicken-and-egg dilemma of hydrogen. If local filling stations are available, hydrogen vehicles will inevitably follow. Our previous funding rounds in March and autumn 2022 were overwhelmed with applications, validating our approach. As of now, 19 funding approvals have been granted across Bavaria, and the first station is set to open in Hofolding this week, with another following in Passau on September 20.”
The revised program provides substantial financial incentives for the development of public and private hydrogen filling stations. Public stations for commercial vehicles and buses will receive up to 90 percent of eligible costs. In-house stations for these vehicle categories are backed with 40 percent support. Launched in October 2020, the initiative was recalibrated in light of updated state aid guidelines. Two previous funding components have been scrapped, but the program is now amping up support for electrolysers through the Bavarian electrolyser funding scheme.
With its first call for applications under the revised guidelines running from September 18 to November 13, 2023, the Ministry of Economic Affairs urges all prospective applicants to reach out to the project management agency at Bayern Innovativ GmbH posthaste.
Here’s the kicker: Bavaria is pushing not just for hydrogen refueling stations but also for an integrated hydrogen infrastructure. That includes climate-neutral hydrogen production technologies, like electrolysers, which are eligible for funding. Additionally, for non-public stations, the program will finance the acquisition or conversion of up to three hydrogen-powered vehicles in the commercial and logistics sectors.
Simply put, Bavaria isn’t just planting the seeds for a hydrogen economy; it’s offering a comprehensive roadmap. From filling stations to vehicles and the hydrogen to fuel them, the state is striving to be a one-stop shop for hydrogen solutions. It’s not just about funding hydrogen; it’s about creating an environment where hydrogen can flourish.
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