Duisburg, Chemnitz, Pfeffenhausen: “At first glance,” says Mayor Florian Hölzl on the phone, this ranking is “very surprising”. But it could sound more frequently in the future. The Pfeffenhausen market won the bid for a national hydrogen research center on Thursday, alongside the two other cities – and thus outpaced 60 other applicants from all over Germany. “Incredible,” says Hölzl.
For the 5000-inhabitant market near Landshut, the new “Hydrogen Technology User Center” (WTAZ) is indeed a big number, one that, at best, radiates far into the country. Because hydrogen plays an important role in the plans of the federal and state government to make industry and transport greener. New competence centers are to promote the use of the element. The Federal Ministry of Transport is planning funds of 100 million euros for the Pfeffenhausen site. The Free State will contribute at least 30 million euros, said Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) on Thursday as part of the announcement.
Pfeffenhausen itself has not been known as a hydrogen hotspot nationwide. Mayor Hölzl also admits that. Nevertheless, at second glance he finds the decision “understandable” that an “excellent application” has been submitted. This was supported by a consortium to which Bavarian companies and research institutions such as the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg belong. The proximity to an electrolyser that will go into operation in Landshut next year and produce green hydrogen also had a positive effect. The electricity required for this will come, among other things, from a twelve megawatt photovoltaic system planned in Pfeffenhausen.
Many in the region are now hoping for a boost from the new center. Lower Bavaria depends on the drip of the automobile industry. It feels like half the country is on the assembly line at BMW in Dingolfing or earns his money with one of the numerous suppliers. But the industry is struggling with several challenges, most notably with the switch to alternative drives. They have already seen what can result from this in Pfeffenhausen: In the local factory of a supplier, 300 people managed at the top. Last year it closed forever.
One day 100 people could work in the WTAZ in Pfeffenhausen. In line with the region’s focus on automobiles, it will primarily deal with hydrogen solutions in the mobility sector: for example, how liquid hydrogen can best be used for filling stations. The center in Chemnitz is to concentrate on road and rail solutions, the one in Duisburg on transport and logistics. In addition, a network in northern Germany is to conduct research on applications in aviation and shipping. The fact that Lower Bavaria happens to be the home of the Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU), who is responsible for the award, “certainly didn’t play a role in the award,” said Söder. The concept should be worked out in more detail by the end of the year. In “four or five years”, says Scheuer, the WTAZ could be operational.
You have to “talk about hydrogen pipelines,” says Söder
The question remains as to where, apart from this, the hydrogen masses that are needed for the climate-friendly conversion of the country should come from. The Landtag Greens praise the new research center and the efforts of the state government. However, the research policy spokeswoman Anne Frank only sees hydrogen as a “sustainable energy source if sustainable energy from wind, water and sun is available across the board for its generation”. Obstacles such as the 10 H regulation in wind power would therefore have to be removed. Söder pointed out on Thursday that one should “talk about hydrogen pipelines”. These could transport hydrogen from northern and southern Europe to Bavaria, “We are planning something similar”.
Work is now also waiting for Mayor Hölzl; the WTAZ must be integrated into the local infrastructure. The market has reserved twelve hectares of land for the future hydrogen center alone. Lots of space for a small place. An information event is therefore planned for September to dispel any reservations about the WTAZ and the development plans. “That is certainly not a spaceship that is being built there,” says Hölzl. But first of all there is a celebration in the town hall. The second mayor, says Hölzl, has just put a glass of champagne on his desk.