The Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) has taken its measures to continue the National Innovation Programme Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP) in the period from 2016 to 2026 based on the “Government Programme Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP) adopted by the German government on September 28, 2016 Fuel cell technology 2016 to 2026 from market preparation to competitive products” is defined as a contribution to the development of sustainable mobility in the document of the same name.
The measures taken by the BMVI as part of the continuation of the NIP aim to establish mobility with hydrogen and fuel cells competitively in the market over the next few years. This includes on-board technologies and systems as well as the fuel infrastructure required in each case. Complementary to the program of electric mobility with batteries and other measures for implementing the mobility and fuel strategy (MKS), the BMVI is thus pursuing an overall technology-open approach.
The details can be found in the electronic tender documents.
Within the diverse R&D&I measures (research and development and innovation measures) anchored in the NIP, the BMVI is responsible for the market preparation demonstration, testing and research-related innovation and thus ties in close coordination with the activities of the applied research and technical development of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The BMVI focuses its activities on the applications of hydrogen and fuel cell technology in the transport sector. The program is mainly implemented via the funding guidelines of 5 July 2021 for research, development and innovation measures as well as for market activation measures.
In addition, the promotion of market activation in the field of hydrogen and fuel cell applications in transport will be based on the Directive on the Promotion of Alternative Drive Systems in Rail Transport from February 3, 2021 and in the future on the basis of the Directive on the Promotion of Alternative Drive Systems for Passenger Transport Buses from 07.09.2021.
In addition to the funding guidelines, the BMVI is also responsible for cross-border projects with a focus on mobility, such as the hydrogen IPCEI (International Project of Common European Interest). An IPCEI is a transnational, important project of common European interest that makes an important contribution to the growth, employment and competitiveness of European industry and economy through state support.
The BMVI held a location competition for an innovation and technology center hydrogen (ITZ). The ITZ will offer SMEs and startups in particular a development environment that has been missing so far. Three locations and a North German cluster were selected for implementation.
In addition, the BMVI is receiving additional budgetary funds from the Future Fund for the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft's “National Fuel Cell Production Action Plan”. The aim is to support transformation processes in the automotive industry, in particular the supplier industry. The nationwide establishment of a research network for fuel cells is intended to significantly reduce the costs for hydrogen vehicles.
The program company NOW GmbH is responsible for coordinating the individual measures and projects on the basis of the development plan developed together with industry and science and adapted to the respective circumstances. The programme is administratively implemented by a project promoter.
The funding guidelines currently run from 2021 to 2024 and 2025, with a funding volume of approximately €1.344 billion expected.
The annual budget depends on the budget negotiations.
Further funding guidelines and measures to promote hydrogen and fuel cell technology in the transport sector and to implement the national hydrogen strategy can follow.
More information about the program is available here: https://www.bmvi.de/DE/Themen/Mobilitaet/Elektromobilitaet/Elektromobilitaet-mit-wasserstoff/elektromobilitaet-mit-wasserstoff.html.
Details can be found in the electronically provided procurement documents