New hydrogen refuelling network planned in Germany, Austria and Denmark

Phillips 66 and H2 Energy Europe have unveiled plans to develop up to 250 retail hydrogen refuelling stations across Germany, Austria and Denmark by 2026 through a new 50:50 joint venture.

Phillips 66 operates more than 1,000 JET-branded service stations in Europe and a growing hydrogen refuelling network in Switzerland through its participation in the Coop Mineraloel joint venture. Swiss company H2 Energy is a joint venture between commodity trading firm and H2 Energy Holding.

The partners’ retail refuelling network will be supplied with green hydrogen (produced by electrolysis using renewable energy). Demand is anticipated in part through H2 Energy’s ownership in Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility, a retail and distribution partner in Europe for Hyundai’s commercially available heavy-duty fuel cell electric truck.

The joint venture notes that government support will be required for implementation of the refuelling network.

‘We consider hydrogen and fuel cell technology an enabler of the energy transition,’ comments Rolf Huber, founder of H2 Energy. ‘It buffers excess electricity production, and stores and distributes energy that has been produced by renewables.’ The company recently unveiled plans to build a 1 GW electrolysis plant in Denmark, capable of generating up to 90,000 t/y of green hydrogen from electricity sourced from offshore wind.

Hyundai’s XCIENT heavy-duty fuel cell truck
Photo: Hyundai