In the HyBayern project, the districts of Landshut, Ebersberg and Munich, together with transport companies, energy suppliers, industry, trade and commerce, intend to implement a closed cycle of green hydrogen production, hydrogen distribution and hydrogen use in emission-free hydrogen vehicle fleets. The project aims to establish a decentralized green hydrogen economy in Munich’s rural areas, focusing on producing cost-competitive green hydrogen for vehicle fleets using renewable energy sources like solar and wind, and potentially hydropower. This hydrogen, generated CO2-free, will be produced near a photovoltaic plant via a large-scale electrolyzer and distributed to various new and existing filling stations and potential hydrogen technology centers, utilizing interchangeable trailers for transport. The sub-project in Pfeffenhausen focusing on decentralized hydrogen generation and on-site refuelling from PV electricity is in progress, aiming to power up to 35 new hydrogen buses and various vehicles, saving over 4,500 tonnes of CO2 annually. HyBayern is set to be a cornerstone for the green hydrogen economy with a budget of around €42 million funded with up to €20 millionby the German Ministry for Transport (HyLand Program).
The Pfeffenhausen electrolyzer is the first green hydrogen source in South Bavaria, with a production capacity of up to 700 tons per year. The facility includes a 5 MW electrolyzer (manufactured by Norwegian company NEL) with trailer filling. The hydrogen will be supplied to customers via trailers of 1250 kg capacity at 450 bar and will feed fuel cell buses in the Munich area, but will also be available for heavy-duty transport. The green electricity for green hydrogen production will mainly be generated in the region around the electrolysis plant. A ten-megawatt photovoltaic ground-mounted system will be connected directly to the electrolyzer and linked to the grid through it. This will enable a grid-friendly and economical operation of the electrolyzer and offer regional producers a short-term connection and purchase option for their renewable solar and wind energy. As a result, the electrolyzer will help additional renewable energy generation plants to be commissioned promptly, and green electricity will be upgraded to green hydrogen, particularly when the grid cannot absorb it. This green hydrogen will then be used in mobile and stationary applications, leading to an annual saving of more than 4,500 tons of CO2 per year in the HyBayern model region.
[Latest update: September 2024]
