The Westphalian University of Applied Sciences Gelsenkirchen (WH) is planning the construction of the "H2 Solution Lab for Hydrogen Applications". This is a research building with approximately 2,000 m² of floor space, including highly specialized hydrogen technology with 1 MW of H2 power (electrolysis, fuel cell modules, storage, compressors, etc.), and it is intended to be used for research and development work as well as for demonstration and transfer activities. In addition, workplaces for research purposes (with laboratory elements) as well as office and seminar rooms are planned. The goal is to set up and operate the building through a private partner in a public-private partnership (PPP). The award will be conducted within the framework of an EU-wide procurement process with a preliminary competition for participation and is to be done in one lot. Thus, the aim is to find a partner (company or a bidding community) who will undertake significant parts of the planning, the structural construction of the infrastructure, and its commissioning, including the assembly and commissioning of the hydrogen facilities, as well as carrying out commercial and technical building management (including inspection, maintenance, and repairs) during a projected operational phase of 25 years. In contrast, the contract will include the performance of maintenance (inspection, maintenance, and repairs) of the main components of hydrogen technology such as electrolyzers, fuel cell systems, and compressors for up to 15 years.

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H2SOLLAB.
Project timeline, funding structure & cost framework The project is primarily financed through grants. Currently, the project is at the end of funding phase 1. In this phase, the foundations for the implementation of the project have been laid. In this regard, essential framework conditions have been clarified and appropriate structures set up. The procurement variant has been determined, and necessary preliminary planning has been implemented and is ongoing. In the last step of this phase, the PPP procurement process is currently being prepared, and the award documents are being created. After the completion of funding phase 1, funding phase 2 is scheduled to follow immediately (target 04/2026), which includes conducting the PPP process as well as the subsequent realization and commissioning. The timeline foresees the conduct of the PPP process to likely take place from Q2 2026 to Q1 2027, with subsequent construction and operational commencement by Q4 2029. The current cost forecast for the realization of the H2 Solution Lab is approximately 30 to 35 million EUR gross based on current calculations and will be fixed with the grant approval for further funding at the beginning of funding phase 2. The cost forecast for the 25-year operational phase is around 10 to 15 million EUR gross at today's price level. Note on the PPP process Initially, this formal advance information is provided and subsequently, the competition for participation within the framework of the PPP process will take place. According to the current status of the process preparation, companies are to be selected in the competition based on the following suitability criteria (indicative, not exhaustive). It can currently be assumed that the respective relevant experience must be proven by at least one reference. Indicative suitability criteria for the PPP participation competition Phase: Cross-cutting experience/reference: PPP experience or experience in overall coordination (services from a single source "Planning and Building") Phase: Planning experience/reference: Experience with object planning services for new buildings with testing, inspection, and/or laboratory areas (especially in LPH 3 - 5 and 8) Experience with specialist planning services for new buildings with testing, inspection, and/or laboratory areas (especially in LPH 3 - 5 and 8) Experience in planning comparable hydrogen facilities (at least 1 MW) Phase: Realization experience/reference: Experience in the structural implementation of new buildings with testing, inspection, and/or laboratory areas Experience in the assembly and commissioning of the aforementioned hydrogen facilities Phase: Operation experience/reference: Experience in technical building management of such buildings over long periods In the context of a PPP process, bidders or bidding communities are later expected that can cover the entire range of services (planning, construction, TGA, hydrogen technology, operation) from a single source from the perspective of the WH.