Germany has allocated €154 million in public funding to support two hydrogen innovation and technology centres, part of a broader initiative to advance hydrogen technology under the country’s National Hydrogen Strategy.
The funding, announced by the German Ministry of Transport, will be distributed to the ITZ Chemnitz and the IT Centre North, which consists of a cluster of four cities—Bremen, Bremerhaven, Hamburg, and Stade.
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ITZ Chemnitz will receive approximately €84 million, with the state of Saxony contributing an additional €14 million, while the northern German centre will be backed by €70 million. Two other hydrogen centres, in Duisburg and Pfeffenhausen, are expected to receive funding at a later stage.
The initiative is part of Germany’s Recovery and Resilience Plan, with funds drawn from the European Union’s NextGenerationEU programme. “Hydrogen presents a key opportunity to make mobility and industry more sustainable,” said German Minister for Digital and Transport Affairs Volker Wissing. “These centres will play a crucial role in aligning climate policy with industrial development and advancing hydrogen technology.”
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Each centre has a distinct focus. The Chemnitz Hydrogen Innovation Centre (HIC) will support the supply industry and mechanical engineering, with research into fuel cells, hydrogen applications, and digital testing technologies. Meanwhile, the Hanseatic Hydrogen Centre for Aviation and Maritime (H2AM) in northern Germany will concentrate on hydrogen-powered shipping and aviation, exploring fuel cell systems, hybrid propulsion, refuelling infrastructure, and hydrogen storage solutions.
Germany’s hydrogen programme had faced delays due to an internal controversy within the Ministry of Transport, where funding allocations were temporarily suspended amid allegations of influence peddling. However, the ministry has resumed investments following the discontinuation of disciplinary proceedings against a former department head.