Bavaria aims for technological leadership in hydrogen
Bavaria wants to play a technological pioneering role worldwide in the application fields of hydrogen. The strong industry and the distinctive research landscape in Bavaria offer ideal conditions for this. The declared goal is to make Green Hydrogen technology "Made in Bavaria" the H2 seal of quality. It is based on the Bavarian Hydrogen Strategy, which defines goals and measures.
As part of the Hightech Agenda Plus, the Free State is investing an additional 900 million euros in future technologies - including hydrogen technology.
The “H2 Hightech Bayern” research initiative
One of the implementation steps of the Bavarian Hydrogen Strategy is the research offensive "H2 Hightech Bayern". In close co-operation between (non-)academic research and the Bavarian industry, innovative hydrogen key components are to be further developed and costs are to be reduced (e.g. fuel cells for use in heavy-duty transport).
Overall, Bavaria aims to occupy a leading role in the global competition for research and development of hydrogen technologies.
![[Translate to Englisch:] Bayerisches Staatswappen](/fileadmin/redaktion/wasserstofftechnik/03-vision/01-bayern-z3-2.png "[Translate to Englisch:] Bayerisches Staatswappen")
Focus on hydrogen and mobility
Today, the mobility of heavy-duty vehicles is responsible for more than half of the emissions in road transport. Thus, there is massive savings potential regarding CO2 emissions: In addition to battery-powered electromobility and synthetic fuels for combustion engines, hydrogen/fuel cell-based electromobility plays an important role in transforming the transport sector.
THWS offers a well-equipped infrastructure in the hydrogen and commercial vehicle mobility research areas: For example, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering has laboratories for vehicle technology, for vehicle systems, as well as for engines that are capable of combusting hydrogen. The Technology Transfer Centre E-Mobility in Bad Neustadt supplies the power electronics and control electronics needed for the fuel-cell drive in hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Importance for the Main-Franconia region
A high number of companies in the region of Main-Franconia is rooted in power engineering, plant engineering, and in the supply and automotive industries. In this context, vehicle manufacturers and the supplier industry are faced with the challenge of mastering the upcoming transformation in the automotive industry: These companies must now convert their products to carbon-free energy sources and materials in the short term.
With the implementation of hydrogen technology in applied research, THWS can provide effective knowledge and technology transfer and significantly support the companies concerned in the transformation. This enables them to maintain or even expand their competitiveness in the changed energy market. In this regard, THWS is co-operating very successfully with the DVGW (German Gas and Water Association) and the H2.Bayern.
Schweinfurt on its way to become an H2 region
In co-operation with the local energy suppliers ÜZ Mainfranken and Stadtwerke Schweinfurt, the city and district of Schweinfurt have developed the concept "HYCircle Schweinfurt". The project aims to provide users in the mobile and industrial sectors with a reliable supply of hydrogen throughout the area. It is also about system-serving hydrogen production and integration into the existing energy system.
Green hydrogen for the Main-Franconia region
The »H2MegaHub« is part of the »HYCircle Schweinfurt« located in the Schweinfurt port area: A co-operative project of the city with the Schweinfurt public utility company, the Siemens AG and further partners aims to implement facility for the production and storage of Green Hydrogen in the Schweinfurt port area, as well as the corresponding distribution infrastructure.
THWS supports the project with expertise and scientific supervision.
HYCircle: Climate-neutral, local logistics
The Würzburg-Schweinfurt region is an important logistics hub. In co-operation with local R&D stakeholders in the field of hydrogen technology, becoming a pioneer in climate-neutral logistics, transport and mobility is the logical step to take.
In the process, all vehicles with traditional combustion engines in the logistics fleets are to be gradually decommissioned and replaced by hydrogen-powered vehicles. Simultaneously, the necessary public infrastructure will be created, especially filling stations and service networks.