Hydrogen economy

Broad research

The region is considered a research and development hotspot in Europe with the following institutes and facilities:

• Technische Universität Berlin: Electrochemical Catalysis, Energy and Materials Sciences Group
• Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB): Solar fuels with the research platform CatLab for the development of novel catalyst materials in cooperation with the Fritz Haber Institute (FHI) and the MPI for Chemical Energy Conversion
• BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg: Research profile energy transition and decarbonization
• Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing): Competence center H2Safety@BAM
• Institute of Low-Carbon Industrial Processes
• Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP: New catalysts and membranes for fuel cells
• Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Systems IEG: Competence Center for Natural Gas, Hydrogen & Material Infrastructures
• Helmholtz Centre Potsdam – German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ): Geothermal energy and underground storage of hydrogen
• Reiner Lemoine Institut (RLI)

Cooperation and funding opportunities

In addition to the hydrogen marketplace, the capital region offers excellent opportunities for R&D cooperation as well as various support offers for business and science:

• The Nationale Organisation Wasserstoff- und Brennstoffzellentechnologie (National Organization for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology) NOW, based in Berlin, is the point of contact for funding and the regulatory framework at federal level.
• The Berlin funding program BENE 2 (funding priority 3: intelligent energy systems, grids and storage systems) supports, among other things, innovative sector coupling projects and demonstration projects.
• The Brandenburg Hydrogen Storage Program (2024) promotes the production, use and distribution of renewable hydrogen as well as the storage of renewable electricity in chemical, mechanical or thermal energy.

Innovative companies and projects

ENERTRAG, Graforce, H2Mobility, MAN Energy Solutions and Siemens Energy are just some of the hydrogen technology companies that are implementing innovative products and projects in the Berlin-Brandenburg region. 

• Since the end of 2023, Siemens Energy has been producing electrolysis modules together with Air Liquide in its multi-gigawatt factory in Berlin-Moabit. H2-ready gas turbines are also being further developed and produced at the site.
• Infrastructure companies, including Berlin Energie und Wärme (BEW), GASAG, Berliner Wasserbetriebe (BWB) and Berliner Stadtreinigung (BSR) have joined forces to form the H2Berlin initiative. The aim is to drive forward the development of a city-wide hydrogen infrastructure based on several hydrogen hubs.
• The Lausitz reference power plant (RefLau) is being built in Brandenburg. It will make a contribution to the future energy supply at the Schwarze Pumpe industrial site – based on renewable energy sources and hydrogen, including the storage and conversion of hydrogen back into electricity. Commissioning is planned for the beginning of 2026.
• As part of the H2BAR project, Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB) has converted train operations on the Heidekrautbahn line (RB27) to hydrogen-powered fuel cell multiple units. As part of sector coupling, Barnimer Busgesellschaft and Barnimer Dienstleistungsgesellschaft are gradually converting their buses and waste collection vehicles to hydrogen operation and will also have their own refueling infrastructure. The hydrogen required for these projects comes 100 percent from renewable energies that are generated regionally.
• Other players with proven expertise in the field of hydrogen in the region are the German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association DWV, the Institute for Climate Protection, Energy and Mobility IKEM, the joint project HyStarter Lausitz, the regional hydrogen network Prignitz-Ostprignitz-Ruppin-Oberhavel (PROOH2V) and the hydrogen network Lausitz DurcH2atmen.