In 2023, the global deployment of hydrogen refuelling stations witnessed a notable upswing, according to the 16th annual analysis by H2stations.org, a service provided by Ludwig-Bölkow-Systemtechnik (LBST). The report reveals the opening of 37 new stations in Europe, twelve in Japan, 29 in South Korea, and seven in North America. Notably, 92% of the newly established hydrogen stations in Europe are equipped to refuel heavy commercial vehicles.
The total count of operational hydrogen refuelling stations worldwide reached 921 by the end of 2023, illustrating a growing global interest in hydrogen infrastructure. However, the distribution remains uneven, with concentration observed in East Asia, particularly in China, Japan, and South Korea, as well as in Central Europe and the east and west coasts of the USA. H2 refuelling stations are sporadically present outside these regions.
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Europe concluded 2023 with 265 hydrogen refuelling stations, with Germany leading the count at 105 stations, followed by France (51), the Netherlands (22), and Switzerland (17). The analysis points out a shift in focus from fuel cell passenger cars to commercial vehicles, highlighting that 92% of the new hydrogen stations built in 2023 cater to both passenger cars and heavy commercial vehicles such as buses or trucks.
While Germany reported only eight new stations in 2023, the country demonstrated notable construction activity. Specifically, 28 existing stations were retrofitted for heavy commercial vehicle refuelling, featuring 700-bar connections for cars and 350-bar connections for heavy-duty vehicles.
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Internationally, East Asian countries surpassed Germany in the hydrogen infrastructure domain, with Japan having 166 stations and South Korea boasting 174 operational locations by the end of 2023. In China, H2stations.org lists 197 locations, acknowledging challenges in data reliability due to limited information access and delayed operational licensing for certain completed stations.
North America experienced moderate growth, witnessing the addition of seven new refuelling stations, bringing the total to 100. Of these, 92 are situated in the USA, primarily concentrated in California, where 75 of the 92 stations are located, reinforcing the regional nature of hydrogen-electric transport within the country.
