Berlin – Steffen Bilger, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, presented a new funding approach at the General Assembly of the National Innovation Programme Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology, specifically focusing on regions for the support of mobility with hydrogen. It will be coordinated by NOW GmbH.
Steffen Bilger: “In the selected regions, the possible integration of hydrogen as an energy carrier is to be demonstrated. Any region in Germany can become a hydrogen region – regardless of its previous experience. As a multi-stage offer, we consider the specific needs, resources and potentials, on site. Support available ranges from providing help to raise the general level of awareness or for the initial organisation of the stakeholder landscape, to developing integrated concepts and in-depth analyses or the procurement of applications in order to implement the resulting concepts”.
The Regional Support
HyStarter:
As a HyStarter, at least six regions in Germany will be able to develop municipal or regional concepts for the integration of hydrogen and fuel cell technology on the basis of renewable energy: especially in the transport sector, but also for heat, power and storage (sector coupling) in the region. The local stakeholders are provided with organisational and technical advice and support in drafting initial concept ideas.
HyExperts:
Regions that have already identified potential or gained initial experience with hydrogen and fuel cells, found project partners and formulated project ideas, are eligible to apply for funding as HyExperts. A jury evaluates the submitted concepts and selects the winners. Prize money totalling one million euros is available to HyExperts for the further development of the concepts right up to their implementation.
HyPerformer:
Potential HyPerformers can apply for funding to implement existing concepts within the scope of further competition. A jury will select the winner(s) from all entries. The total prize money for the HyPerformers amounts to 20 million euros, which will be made available in the form of investment grants for procurements.
Expressions of interest as a HyStarter are now possible. For HyExperts and HyPerformer, this phase will commence in spring 2019. More information on the funding and procedural details can be found here
Read the most up to date Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Industry news at FuelCellsWorks
