Air Products, a leading industrial gases company, has secured funding from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection, and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) in Germany to construct two large-scale hydrogen refueling stations (HRS) in Duisburg and Meckenheim. These stations will serve as vital components in Air Products’ initiative to establish a European network of hydrogen refueling stations, catering to heavy-duty and long-range vehicles for zero-emission fleets.
The newly funded stations will be situated near Air Products’ current German headquarters in Hattingen, where the company has operated for over six decades. With the received funding, Air Products will undertake the construction, ownership, and operation of these high-capacity HRSs, capable of accommodating various vehicle classes, including medium and heavy-duty vehicles. These stations, supplied with Air Products’ Hydrogen, aim to provide a reliable and efficient network of HRSs for trucks in Germany, facilitating the transition towards zero-emission fleets.
This funding represents a significant step in Air Products’ commitment to assisting its customers in reducing global carbon emissions and fostering a sustainable future. As the world’s largest hydrogen supplier, Air Products brings extensive experience with over 250 hydrogen fueling station projects across 20 countries. The company’s technologies support over 1.5 million fueling operations annually. Air Products also plans to construct large-scale, renewable hydrogen production facilities in Europe and expand its European network of HRSs, with the two new stations in Germany complementing the previously announced HRS in Hürth-Knapsack.
The funding for these stations is part of NRW’s hydrogen roadmap, reflecting the region’s ambitious goals to decarbonise heavy-duty transportation. NRW aims to have 11,000 hydrogen fuel cell trucks, 3,800 Fuel Cell buses for public transportation, and 200 hydrogen fuelling stations by 2030.
“This funding brings heavy-duty vehicle ready stations to the region. We are excited to be able to support first-mover truck operators looking to test and integrate hydrogen fuel cell trucks into their fleets,” says Jorg Homberg, General Manager for Air Products Germany.
“Hydrogen is an important component for climate-neutral heavy goods transport in North Rhine-Westphalia,” says Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy and Deputy Prime Minister of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia in the Würst II cabinet. ”Hydrogen trucks have long ranges and short refuelling times. This will ensure the competitiveness of logistics companies. In order to be able to rely on emission-free drives in heavy goods transport in the future, we must create the conditions now. The development of hydrogen infrastructure must be significantly accelerated. We are creating an important incentive for the expansion of the urgently needed filling station network in North Rhine-Westphalia.”
