Bavaria is making work on the creation of a hydrogen technology application centre (WTAZ), which will include a 5-MW electrolyser and allow enterprises to develop, test, and certify hydrogen technology products for mobility applications.
Tuesday, the state’s energy ministry announced that the Bavarian Council of Ministers has approved the purchase of a block of land for the center in Pfeffenhausen, Landshut district.
From 2024 on, WTAZ intends to concentrate on the value chain for hydrogen and fuel cell technology for mobility applications. In 2023, a 5-MW electrolyser will begin producing green hydrogen at the site.
Daimler Truck AG already intends to utilize the site to test the hydrogen-powered vehicles it is currently developing. Vehicles are anticipated to have a range of approximately 1,000 kilometers (621.4mi).
Hubert Aiwanger, Bavaria’s economics and energy minister, stated that Daimler Truck’s decision demonstrates the significance of the center for the expansion of hydrogen technology in mobility. Hydrogen is an ideal alternative to fossil fuels, particularly in heavy-duty traffic, and according to Aiwanger, this is the only option to successfully shift to climate-neutral vehicles on the highways.
The federal government was intended to provide EUR 100 million to the project, but the amount was reduced to EUR 72.5 million (USD 77.27 million) last week. Bavaria will contribute 30 million EUR to the project.
The federal funding will be used for the construction of the building and infrastructure, as well as the purchase of equipment and the first financing of running expenses.
The Bavarian hydrogen center is one of four planned national hydrogen centers in Germany. The last three facilities will be constructed in Chemnitz, Duisburg, and northern Germany.
