Hydrogen economy
The Berlin-Brandenburg region is driving technology development and application forward. Here you will find the right partners for your hydrogen project.
The energy transition is gaining momentum. By 2050, the State of Berlin has set itself the goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 95 percent compared to 1990 levels. With its wide range of possible uses, hydrogen closes the gap between fluctuating electricity generation from renewable energies and demand. Hydrogen technologies are of vital importance for the energy systems of the future.
Neighboring Brandenburg is in the top group nationwide when it comes to generating renewable energy. Those wanting to produce or use green hydrogen, have come to the right place. Based on the roadmap for the development of a hydrogen economy in Brandenburg and the capital region, the state has developed a specific hydrogen strategy.
The Berlin Brandenburg region has the potential to bring together all players along the green hydrogen value chain - from research and development through testing and production to implementation and application.
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)
Innovative companies and projects
ENERTRAG, Graforce, HPS, HH2E, 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 at the site.
- Infrastructure companies, including Vattenfall, 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.
- 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.
Selection of regional companies
- adKor | Production and use of fuel cell systems for critical infrastructures/healthcare/traffic control technology
- APUS | Development of hydrogen-powered aircraft engines
- BASF Schwarzheide | Generation and use of hydrogen in industrial processes
- BEHALA | Use of hydrogen in shipping
- DESAG | Use of hydrogen in rail transport
- Energiequelle | Consulting and project development for P2G systems
- ENERTRAG | Production and distribution of hydrogen
- GASAG | Gas supplier
- Graforce | Production of hydrogen
- H2Mobility | Construction and planning of H2 filling stations
- HH2E | Production of green hydrogen
- HPS Home Power Solutions | Development of domestic energy systems
- inhouse engineering | Development of fuel cell and energy systems
- Localiser | Operator of the first hydrogen marketplace for infrastructure planning
- McPhy Deutschland | Production of electrolyzers
- Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB) | Use of hydrogen in rail transport
- ONTRAS | East German gas transmission system operator
- Prignitz Mikrosystemtechnik | Pressure and temperature transmitters for hydrogen applications
- Reuther STC | Manufacturer of pressure vessels for storing hydrogen
- Shit2Power | Hydrogen generation from sewage sludge recycling
- Siemens Energy | Production of H2-ready electrolyzers and gas turbines
- STOFF2 I Development and production of electrolyzers for the generation of green hydrogen
- Vattenfall | Use of hydrogen in industrial processes and the transport sector
- Wankel SuperTec | Wankel SuperTec | Production of Wankel engines that can operate with hydrogen
Cooperation and funding opportunities
The capital region offers excellent opportunities for R&D cooperation as well as various support services for companies:
- Germany's first digital hydrogen marketplace connects suppliers and users in Berlin and Brandenburg with a georeferenced representation of hydrogen locations.
- 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.
