Hydrogen bus on the brink: future of the project in Birkenfeld uncertain!

Hydrogen bus on the brink: future of the project in Birkenfeld uncertain!

The future of mobility in the Hunsrück-Hochwald national park region is hanging in the balance. At the Birkenfeld environmental campus there are tensions surrounding an ambitious hydrogen project that should be considered a showcase project for climate-friendly transport. Loud SWR The planned hydrogen bus has not yet been implemented after three years. Instead, researchers now prefer electric buses because hydrogen bus technology is considered too expensive.

The State Environment Minister Katrin Eder recently praised hydrogen as the “champagne of the energy transition”. The original plan included an electrolyser that would convert water and electricity into green hydrogen, as well as a hydrogen filling station. But the dream of a hydrogen bus could be dashed because the scientific community is convinced of the more established electric bus technology. Professor Gregor Hoogers from the Fuel Cell Competence Center argues that the high spare parts, maintenance and operating costs of hydrogen buses are hindering progress.

New focus on electric buses

One of the key factors in switching to electric buses is the dramatic improvement in this technology. The researchers are not only striving to achieve climate protection as their main goal, but also to find practical and cost-effective solutions. Discussions are also underway with Mayor Matthias König, who is proposing to freeze funds for the hydrogen project and who sees the idea of ​​a hydrogen bus as more of a showpiece than a viable solution.

The Federal Environment Ministry has meanwhile reconsidered its support for promoting the project. Although 4.6 million euros in funding are in prospect, the commitment could become less important given the changed plans.

The environmental campus as a pioneer

The Birkenfeld Environmental Campus has set itself the goal of becoming the “greenest university in Germany” by launching a 5.5 million euro pilot project for the use of hydrogen. Loud Environmental Campus The goal is not only to promote H2 use, but also to establish hydrogen as a storage medium for renewable energies. For this purpose, a hydrogen-powered zero-emission bus is to be used in the region.

The current model project has the working title “H2 Campus” and could make the university the first in Rhineland-Palatinate to implement a comprehensive hydrogen strategy. The existing infrastructure, such as a zero-emission mobility center with solar roofs and e-charging stations, is now being expanded to include new solar carports and a hydrogen tank. In addition, automotive suppliers such as Bosch and Schaeffler are expected to advance fuel cell production in Homburg/Saar by 2024.

The national hydrogen strategy as a framework

The development of hydrogen technologies is also part of the federal government's national hydrogen strategy. This strategy aims to achieve a significant reduction in CO2 emissions through renewable energies and to build new value chains for the German economy, as on the side of Federal Ministry of Economics can be read. Hydrogen can play a central role in the energy transition and thus create the basis for future energy supply.

But the challenges remain great, and it remains to be seen whether the Birkenfeld Environmental Campus can secure the necessary funding. A formal application is required by January 15th. The team of scientists hopes to find the right way to finally make the dream of climate-friendly transport come true.