Guidelines on building HRS in the Baltic Sea Region and updates on the H2CE project

During the first half of the session, Mr. Schober first introduced the audience to Reiner Lemoine Institute, which is a non-profit research institute. The work that is done to HyTruck project is a part of the Mobility with renewable energies department. Their aim is to provide knowledge of how to shift towards more sustainable and socially just transport systems.

After a brief recap of the whole HyTruck project, Mr. Schober presented the Guidelines on Building Hydrogen Refueling Stations in the Baltic Sea Region that have been developed in HyTruck. The guideline aims to support public authorities in the Baltic Sea region in planning and constructing HRS.

The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation, AFIR for short, requires member states to provide H₂ refueling network for heavy duty transport along the TEN-T network by the end of 2030. So, it needs coordination to build compatible and competitive infrastructure. Simplifying regulation and avoiding gaps in planning is also important. First, it is essential to identify regional needs and legal requirements of building the suitable infrastructure. This whole process requires public authorities to take an active role in the development.

The guideline discusses the need for HRS and encourages consideration of environmental aspects. Also, the availability of H₂ needs to be taken into consideration. The guideline also provides insights on how to plan the stations. Along with environmental aspects, demand and distribution, design and equipment and economical aspects of the station needs to be taken into account. Another part of the guideline is the identification of needs, such as the site, possible permits, regulations, networks, and collaborators. A central part of the guideline is selecting the method of H₂ supply. The three main options are on-site production, trailer delivery, and pipeline supply. The choice of site significantly impacts which supply method is suitable. Additionally, storage capacity, infrastructure costs, and logistics must be considered. The full guideline is available on the HyTruck website.

The second part of the session was a presentation of the H2CE project by Pedro Brosei from the project lead partner Joint Spatial Planning Department Berlin-Brandenburg and Josephine Nehring from the Reiner Lemoine Institute. In the project, the Summary of Regional Analyses and the Guidelines for Strategies and Action Plans have recently been developed. First, Mr.Brosei presented the overview of the project. The H2CE project aims to help regions in Central Europe to boost integration of H₂ in local and regional planning. The project develops and tests tools for public authorities to use in infrastructure planning and facilitates networks for exchanging information on H₂-ready best practices. It also helps identify the region’s H₂ potential, including its sources and the progress of H₂ development. The project partners form a corridor through Central Europe, which allows the project to benefit from the regional experiences and resources.

The second part of the presentation was presented by Ms. Josephine Nehring, who shared the results of the WP1 of the project. The WP focuses on strategy development and creation of action plans for becoming an H₂-ready region. The work starts with the preparation of a fact sheet of indicators. To develop the H₂ economy, systemic indicators along the H₂ value chain need to be identified. To identify regional indicators and sub-indicators, a questionnaire was developed as part of the project. The results revealed that electrolysis is the preferred method for hydrogen production. Another key finding from the questionnaire was the need to address water consumption. For example, decentralized production lessens water stress. Regions see lessening GHG emissions and increasing renewable energy as an opportunity but the obstacle for increasing H₂ production is currently the cost of the technology.

The results of the questionnaire provide a foundation for developing a strategy and action plan to become an H₂-ready region. This process consists of four key phases:

1. Preparation – This phase involves identifying and engaging relevant stakeholders while analysing regional frameworks. Stakeholders should be categorized based on their interest and influence in strategy development, ensuring that key regional players are actively involved.
2. Strategy Development – This phase focuses on defining regional political targets and assessing the benefits of becoming an H₂-ready region. It is essential to establish specific, measurable goals to guide the transition.
3. Measure Planning & Action Plan Creation – The selected measures should be feasible, cost-effective, and impactful. However, potentially conflicting objectives may arise and need to be addressed.
4. Implementation & Monitoring – This final phase ensures the execution of the action plan, including efforts to enhance education and training in STEM fields. Additionally, it involves identifying bottlenecks and mitigating delays in implementation.

The discussion on strategy development and action plan creation will continue in the upcoming H2CE project workshop.

Presentations for download:

• Guidelines on building HRS in the Baltic Sea Region
• Updates on the H2CE project

The next HyTruck Breakfast Briefing meeting will be held on the 5th of March at 9:00 CET. It will be hosted by the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania (PP2) and the topic will be Hydrogen Solutions: Green Energy Park and MT Group’s Role in Decarbonization.

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