 Germany
INTRODUCTION
Intensive research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) on hydrogen technologies was started in Germany in 1988 and concentrated on the development of specific technologies, such as hydrogen production using electrolysis, hydrogen storage, and larger projects, to demonstrate the complete supply chain of a solar hydrogen energy economy (HYSOLAR and the Solar-Hydrogen-Bavaria Project, BAYSOLAR). This work was concluded in 1995 and 1999 with the result that, in principle, the main components of a hydrogen energy system were developed and functioning; however, the commercial viability of a solar hydrogen economy could only be realized in the far future. Ambitious projects concentrating on new materials, improved components, and system integration have been supported.
In 2006, the National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Innovation Program (NIP) was established as a strategic alliance between the German government, industry, and the academic community. These partners are forging ahead in preparing the market for hydrogen and fuel cell applications. To this end, in addition to research and development (R&D) work, the program focuses on extensive demonstration projects in the following sectors: transport including hydrogen infrastructure, stationary applications, and special markets.
The NIP has a total budget of 1.4 billion euro (€) (US$2.044 billion). Half of the budget is contributed by the German government — the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building, and Urban Affairs (BMVBS) and the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) — while industry participants provide the other half. Research and development projects are funded through the BMWi, which contributes €200 million (US$293 million), while demonstration projects are funded through the BMVBS, which contributes €500 million (US$32.5 million).
The National Organization for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW) coordinates and manages the implementation of the NIP. A federally owned body, NOW is the central point in a new strategic alliance that embraces the German government, industry, and the academic community. NOW’s novel approach brings together these partners as equals and maintains a platform through which they can further develop the NIP in line with their own needs, thus making the best possible use of the specific qualities of each partner.
NOW focuses on so-called lighthouse projects, in which NIP project partners are grouped on a regional or topic-specific basis so as to create strong cooperative projects.
The German fuel cell industry is very likely the market leader in Europe, not only in terms of the number of companies involved and people employed but also in terms of showing leadership through a variety of demonstration projects — as underscored by the fact that more than 70% of today’s European fuel cell demonstration units are located in Germany.
Germany is participating actively in the European Union’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform and is actively involved in the International Partnership on Hydrogen Economy (IPHE).
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POLICY & LEGISLATION
The German government adopted the NIP as part of its “high-tech strategy” in spring 2006. The program aims to contribute to maintaining and expanding Germany’s good starting position for developing and implementing hydrogen and fuel cell technology in the marketplace. The Innovation Program includes RD&D of mobile as well as stationary applications of fuel cells and hydrogen.
Complementing fuel cells, battery technology will be further developed as a key technology. The new €500-million (US$732.5 million) program for e-mobility is based on the 2009 economic stimulus package. It runs from 2009 to 2011.
Federal Government
Public funding of BMWi and BMVBS will amount to €1.4 billion euro from 2006 to 2016 (NIP) and guarantees substantial institutional funding for basic research at Max-Planck Gesellschaft (MGP), Helmholtz-Centers (HGF), and Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (FhG), as well as RD&D projects carried out by the industry.
Federal States
Most federal states, such as North Rhine-Westphalia and Hamburg, have initiatives and funding programs. For example, North Rhine-Westphalia has funded 85 projects since 2000. The annual funding amount averaged approximately €10 million (US$14.65 million). Because of a new, larger-scale project (“hydrogen highway”), the annual funding amount for the coming 3 years will be €15 million (US$21.97 million). Hamburg funded six major projects between 2003 and 2008 that totaled €15.2 million (US$22.2 million). Between 2009 and 2013, Hamburg will spend €18.4 million (US$26.96 million) on hydrogen and fuel cell projects.
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RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
In the NIP framework, R&D projects are funded by the BMWi, while BMVBS focuses its funding more on demonstration projects. BMWI funding for R&D in the field of fuel cell and hydrogen technology accounted for €25–30 million (US$36.62-43.95 million) over the past 3 years (from 2006 to 2009).
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DEMONSTRATIONS & DEPLOYMENT
Demonstration projects in Germany and other IPHE partner countries are featured at www.iphe.net/DemonstrationMap.html.
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TRANSPORT & HYDROGEN INFRASTRUCTURE
The Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) is the most substantial demonstration project in the area of hydrogen transport and infrastructure. Established in 2002, the CEP is an international group of cooperating enterprises whose aim is to prove the feasibility of hydrogen as fuel in day-to-day use.
In October 2008, CEP entered Phase 2, and since then 48% of its funding has been through the NIP. The CEP partners are BMW Group, Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe BVG, Daimler, Ford, General Motors/Opel, Hamburger Hochbahn HH, Linde Shell, StatoilHydro, TOTAL, Vattenfall Europe, and Volkswagen. The total CEP budget in 2008 was €25.8 million (US$37.79 million).
CEP focuses on the key regions of Berlin and Hamburg. More than 30 passenger cars and two bus fleets are in day-to-day use. CEP also maintains a fueling network in Hamburg and Berlin.
Hydrogen Cars
Ten HydroGen4 vehicles from General Motors/Opel joined the CEP’s fleet of cars in 2008. The HydroGen4 is a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle of the latest generation whose features include a 700-bar hydrogen storage system. The vehicles will be in daily use in Berlin until the end of the second CEP phase in 2010.
VW has enlarged the CEP fleet with the addition of its latest fuel cell vehicles, the HyMotion models based on the VW Tiguan. The vehicles are equipped with start-stop functionality and braking energy recovery and have made a major contribution to CEP’s aim of establishing a fleet of 40 vehicles by 2010. Volkswagen plans to use the six vehicles to learn more about the supply, operation, and performance of fuel cell vehicles.
BMW has been a rock-solid participant since CEP’s early days. In Phase 2, the company will operate additional BMW Hydrogen7 vehicles in Berlin. Unlike other manufacturers’ vehicles, most of the BMW Hydrogen7s are equipped with bivalent H2´combustion engines, although some of them have a monovalent H2 combustion engine.
Daimler’s core aims for using its 10 A-Class hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are to support demonstration operation and realize improvement in servicing and maintaining the vehicles and in project management. The cars are being subjected to testing in everyday situations in the hydrogen cities of Hamburg and Berlin. During the second CEP phase, which expires in 2010, Daimler plans to increase its fleet of small fuel cell cars in the customer section with the addition of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class fuel cell vehicles.
Hydrogen Buses
The hydrogen-powered buses integrated into the public transport systems of Berlin (run by BVG) and Hamburg (run by Hochbahn) commenced operation in CEP's first phase as part of the European Union (EU)-subsidized project, HyFleet:CUTE. The project, “Sustainable Bus System of the Future” (NaBuZ) by partners EvoBus, Daimler, and Hamburger Hochbahn, is at the demonstration preparation stage. The partners’ aim is to use a small, initial series of 10 fuel cell hybrid buses in Hamburg as part of Hochbahn’s scheduled services. NaBuZ will become part of CEP as soon as this small series is operating as a demonstration project.
Hydrogen Refueling Stations
Shell Deutschland Oil GmbH is planning an innovative hydrogen refueling station. Compact, scalable pump technology for hydrogen refueling is to be used on a large scale in Berlin and developed further in everyday operation. In this way, Shell aims to prove greater energy efficiency, longer service life, and fewer needs for repairs.
Linde is closely involved in this project. The company plans to develop an innovative refueling method to support large-scale public refueling on the basis of a new concept that includes such core components as a 900-bar pump and a thermal block for the thermal treatment of the hydrogen. The aim of the new system is to save space and energy and ensure reliable series refueling.
Linde is also continuing the operation of mobile 350- or 700-bar refueling points in order to meet increasing demand from the expanding hydrogen fleet. Established in the first CEP phase, the refueling system is located close to Berlin’s city centre.
TOTAL Deutschland is creating a mobile 700-bar refueling system for temporary use. In addition to supplying Berlin’s fleet of hydrogen-powered vehicles, the company’s aim is to thoroughly test mobile refueling systems as a supply option for early markets.
TOTAL’s service station in Heerstrasse, Berlin, continues to serve the CEP fleet in the second phase of the project. The refueling station is designed for hydrogen vehicles with 350- and 700-bar storage systems. It also has the technical equipment needed to refuel with liquid hydrogen.
In the longer term, renewable energy sources, in particular, are to be used for hydrogen production. Vattenfall is an important member of CEP in terms of establishing a hydrogen infrastructure of this kind in Germany.
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STATIONARY APPLICATIONS
In the field of domestic energy, the Callux lighthouse project is an NIP mainstay. (The name Callux is made up of the Latin words calor [heat] and lux [light].) Over the entire period of the project (2008 to 2015), a total of up to 800 fuel cell heating devices will be used in Callux for the supply of domestic heat and power.
Systems with polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology will both be tested. Phase 1 of the project has been running since September 2008. A total of 48% of the cost of Callux is covered by funds from NIP; which makes NOW a powerful and committed partner to the project. The aim of Callux is to further develop existing technology into reliable systems that are suitable for everyday use through the participating energy providers’ purchase, installation, and operation of large numbers of fuel cell heating devices. This effort will help prepare the market for the launch of fuel cell heaters powered by natural gas.
The core elements of the project are the field test modules of energy providers EnBW, E.ON, Ruhrgas, and MVV Energy. These companies purchase state-of-the-art fuel cell heating devices, make them available to interested private customers, and test the use of the technology in everyday practice. The energy providers purchase the heating devices on the basis of long-term contracts with device manufacturers Baxi Innotech, Hexis, and Vaillant. Thus, small initial production runs with the appropriate supplier chains are established.
The NEEDS lighthouse project was initiated in 2008 in the industrial fuel cell systems area within the energy supply sector. Its aim is to develop standardized fuel cell systems in combination with biomass utilization plants (biogas, sewer gas, pyrolysis, synthesis).
Dalkia Deutschland is working on an initial system, made up of a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) and a gas motor block-type thermal power station with a specially developed management and control system. The new system is designed for use in biogas plants. The MCFC is particularly well suited to permanent operation at the rated load point, while the gas motor block-type thermal power station converts the peak generation of biogas into heat and power, thus avoiding biogas burn-off. In addition, the plant’s waste heat is fed into a local heating system as useful heat. The installation of around 60 systems is planned by 2014 as part of the NEEDS lighthouse project.
Another lighthouse project is underway in Potsdam’s “Speicherstadt” warehouse area. The historic warehouse area is the main development site in the Potsdam inner city. Its energy supply is to be highly efficient and completely carbon dioxide (CO2) neutral. The project will combine innovative construction methods to minimize consumption with a high-performance MCFC fuel cell block-type thermal power station and biogas generation from organic waste.
MTU has initiated an individual project in the field of high-temperature fuel cells. The company is adapting and optimizing production processes in the course of development of an automated production line; to date, modules have been produced manually. The cell stacks produced in this way are being tested in the laboratory and in practice. The project combines research with development and trials and is being financed jointly by BMWi and BMVBS. The total contribution from the latter ministry for the period of 2008 to 2011 is €5.6 million (US$8.20 million).
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SPECIAL MARKETS
Some fuel cell systems are already on the brink of market entry. These products are usually used in niche markets, which are referred to as special or early markets.
Uses for fuel cells range here from network-independent or critical power supplies in the information technology and telecommunications sectors (computer centers, mobile/fixed-line radio base stations) and logistics (fork-lift trucks) or portable applications (cell phones, cameras) to applications in the leisure and tourism market.
The leisure and tourism market holds many possibilities for fuel cell applications, and NOW is funding appropriate projects in this field. Initial individual projects in South Germany have been combined into the BODENSEE lighthouse project, which enables cross-sectional topics to be processed efficiently and for synergies to be created.
The BODENSEE project is testing the use of fuel cells for onboard power supplies for camping vehicles (e.g., camper vans, caravans) and drives for leisure vehicles (e.g., boots , light vehicles). In line with proven lighthouse project principles, these tests take place under everyday conditions. A further aim is to attract the high level of public attention that is possible for fuel cell applications in this sector. The BODENSEE lighthouse project has the support of the federal state of Baden-Württemberg as main partner for a period of one year.
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PRODUCTS
The only commercial products are from SFC Smart Fuel Cell. The company specializes in mobile energy for leisure, industrial, and military applications. SFC Smart Fuel Cell has been selling its fuel cells to industrial and retail customers for more than four years already. The company has also established a commercial infrastructure to distribute its fuel cartridges.
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PARTICIPANTS
Participants are the main industry players from all sectors and the academic community, as well as political decision makers and ministerial departments. The NOW advisory board, strategy council, and general assembly essentially represent the hydrogen and fuel cell community in Germany.
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WEBSITES
The following websites relate to hydrogen and fuel cell policy, research programs, and hydrogen associations:
- Federal Ministries
- National Organizations
- Networks/Initiatives of Federal States
- Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Associations
- Projects
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MEMBER STATEMENTS
- German Presentation (Reiner) (PDF 3.12); Governmental Programs on E-Mobility; Ulm, Germany; 15 June 2010
- German Presentation (Bonhoff) (PDF 3.12); Governmental Programs on E-Mobility; Ulm, Germany; 15 June 2010
- German Presentation (PDF 420KB); IPHE Infrastructure Workshop; Sacramento, CA, USA; 25-26 February 2010
- German Statement (PDF 4.39MB); ILC/SC Joint Meeting; Washington, DC; 1-3 December 2009
- German Statement (PDF 3.76MB); ILC Committee Meeting; Essen, Germany; 19-22 February 2008
- German Statement (PDF 471KB); ILC Committee Meeting; Seoul, Korea; 11-14 June 2007
- German Statement (PDF 246KB); ILC Meeting; Oxford, England; 30 January - 1 February 2007
- German Statement (PDF 397KB); Steering Committee Meeting; Reykjavik, Iceland; 26-27 September 2006
- German Statement (PDF 662KB); Steering Committee Meeting; Kyoto, Japan; 14-15 September 2005
- German Statement (PDF 923KB); ILC Committee Meeting; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; 22 March 2005
- German Statement (PDF 263KB); Steering Committee Meeting; Paris, France; 26-28 January 2005
- German Statement (PDF 80KB); ILC Meeting; Reisensburg, Germany; 26 February 2004
- Ministerial Statement (PDF 94KB); IPHE Inaugural Ministerial Meeting; Washington, D.C.; 20 Nov 2003
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REPORTS & ROADMAPS
- NOW Annual Report 2008 (PDF 4.83MB)
- National Development Plan (NEP 2.1), April 2007
English (PDF) German (PDF)
- National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Innovation Programme (NIP), May 2006
English (PDF) German (PDF)
- The 5th Energy Research Programme of the Federal Government, July 2005
English (PDF 546KB)| German (PDF 659KB)
- Strategy Report on Research Needs in the Field of Hydrogen Energy Technology
English (PDF 806KB) | German (PDF 1.78MB)
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