// H2 GeNeSiS – end-to-end hydrogen system along the river Neckar

H2 GeNeSiS demonstrates that a hydrogen economy can be developed, approved, built, operated and expanded in Baden-Württemberg in an economically viable, socially acceptable and ecologically worthwhile manner. The model region serves as a blueprint for other regions which can adopt the scalable approach and build on the experience gained from applying the individual modules.

All the activities will be networked in an “H2 marketplace”. This is lowering the barrier to entry for other players and projects with the potential to add to the model region in the future.

The hydrogen for the model region will initially be generated at Stuttgart inland port using water electrolysis and electricity from renewable sources of energy. This means that there will be a locally produced supply of green H2 available for use in the model region. The waste heat generated during the H2 production process will be used to heat buildings or whole districts in order to achieve the highest possible overall level of efficiency in using the green electricity. The measures planned will already equate to a saving of 10,000 t of CO2 in the course of the project.

The “Neckar H2 Pipeline” will be the common thread running through and joining the individual projects. Its development and the construction of the first sections will go ahead as the project progresses. There will be a new public filling station in Stuttgart in the short term which will mainly be responsible for supplying the buses, refuse collectors and road sweepers procured with funding from other projects. H2 GeNeSiS will therefore form the basis for the continuous expansion of the hydrogen economy in the Stuttgart region.

The high profile and immediate visibility of the project along with the strong communications strategy will help to boost the social acceptance of hydrogen to the next level.

The role of the ZSW in the project is to contribute its know-how in the design and optimisation of integrated H2 supply systems and component development. It will be possible in this way to establish an efficient and reliable pipeline-based H2 supply system for H2 producers and H2 consumers through transparent and clear specifications on H2 quality, pressure, mode of operation, etc. The alkaline electrolyser prototype “Made in Baden-Württemberg”, engineered under the leadership of the ZSW and funded by the federal state, is due to go into operation as a demonstration pilot for several years after completion of its development and construction in Stuttgart inland port in addition to the electrolysis plant planned for the site.