Düsseldorf launches Europe’s most powerful hydrogen refuelling station

A new hydrogen filling station, described as the most powerful in Europe, has opened in the German city of Düsseldorf. The facility is the result of a collaboration between transport operator Rheinbahn, Düsseldorf Public Utilities (Stadtwerke Düsseldorf), and H2 Mobility.

The station can dispense up to 5 tonnes of hydrogen per day and refuel up to three vehicles simultaneously, including buses, lorries, cars and light commercial vehicles. This high-capacity station marks a significant upgrade over previous hydrogen infrastructure and plays an important role in Düsseldorf’s goal to achieve climate neutrality by 2035.

Funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) and the former Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV), the station is part of a broader initiative by the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia to decarbonise the transport sector, especially in areas where electrification is less feasible. Hydrogen-powered vehicles, particularly in heavy-duty and public transport sectors, benefit from fast refuelling and long range. 

The state energy agency, NRW.Energy4Climate, is supporting the roll-out of hydrogen mobility across the region and is helping to build local hydrogen ecosystems. Initially, the station will use renewable hydrogen from certified sources, and by 2026 it will transition to hydrogen produced locally at Stadtwerke Düsseldorf’s waste-to-energy electrolyser.

Author: Carla Giaume

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.