Hydrogen Centre HIC
BDWR: Hydrogen must be promoted across the board
The city of Chemnitz and the districts of south-west Saxony (Vogtlandkreis, Erzgebirgskreis, LK Mittelsachsen and LK Zwickau) have endorsed the attached position paper of the BDWR (Bund der Wasserstoffregionen). The city of Chemnitz has been a member of the BDWR since its foundation.
From the City of Chemnitz's point of view, hydrogen as a storage medium for renewable energies cannot be ruled out as an option for supply at present - especially in our region, which is characterised by small and medium-sized enterprises.
There is a risk that regions without this option will be at a disadvantage when it comes to transformation. The stakeholders in our region have recognised the need and are using the paper to advocate access to a hydrogen infrastructure for small and medium-sized enterprises - which employ around 52 percent of all people in Germany.
Federal Government and Free State of Saxony seal the establishment of the National Hydrogen Centre in Chemnitz
Federal and state governments support investments totalling 87.5 million euros
(29.08.24) The signals for the establishment of the national hydrogen centre in the Chemnitz Technopark are "green". The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV) and the Saxon Ministry of Economic Affairs (SMWA) signed the necessary administrative agreement in Chemnitz today. The federal government is supporting the "Hydrogen Innovation Centre" (HIC) project with 72.5 million euros. The Free State of Saxony is co-financing the development phase of the HIC with around 15 million euros until 2028.
The HIC in Chemnitz is the Chemnitz site of the national Innovation and Technology Centre for Hydrogen (ITZ), which successfully won the BMDV's federal competition in 2021. The HIC was developed by the national hydrogen technology cluster HZwo e.V., which brings together the expertise of 150 companies and research institutions across Germany. The HIC is to be set up via the subsidiary HIC gGmbH, which was founded in 2024.
Significance for Saxony, Germany and Europe
With the construction of the Hydrogen Innovation Centre (HIC), a development and test environment for hydrogen technologies that is unique in Europe will be established in the region, bringing together the expertise of the region and the cluster under the umbrella of HZwo e.V. Chemnitz will be home to the most modern hydrogen centre with test benches, hydrogen training laboratories and workshops, a start-up centre and laboratories for industrial customers who rely on hydrogen. Small and medium-sized enterprises, automotive suppliers and industrial companies will have the opportunity to test and certify their innovations, train employees and develop new standards for the global market at the HIC. The facility also offers start-ups in the field of hydrogen technologies attractive conditions for setting up in the region, thus promoting the creation of new jobs in the region. In addition, the proximity to the research and university campus with Chemnitz University of Technology and the Fraunhofer Institutes IWU and ENAS sustainably strengthens the regional innovative power, further expanding Chemnitz's pioneering role as a location for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in Europe.
Next steps
In the coming weeks, the focus will be on the prompt approval of the necessary funds by the Federal Ministry of Transport in order to be able to initiate the official start of the project. The aim is then to finalise the construction planning and obtain planning permission so that the foundation stone can be laid as soon as possible. Commissioning of the first construction phase is scheduled for 2026. In the further course of the project, the focus will be on completing the remaining construction work smoothly in order to realise project completion in 2029. "Time is of the essence," warns Karl Lötsch, adding "The competition for hydrogen technologies is in full swing. New markets are developing worldwide. Hydrogen-based drive systems in particular are taking on a new, strategic importance as part of the transformation of the transport sector. The Hydrogen Innovation Centre as part of the ITZ will focus on the development of these future technologies," says Karl Lötsch.
The ITZ site in Chemnitz will also support small and medium-sized suppliers in particular, who are heavily affected by structural change, to develop products for hydrogen-based mobility solutions, train skilled workers and increase the visibility of the Free State in international relocations.
Hydrogen centre receives significantly higher funding
(20.05.2022) The planned Chemnitz Hydrogen Centre will receive an additional 12.5 million euros this year. The Budget Committee of the German Bundestag yesterday approved a significant increase in federal funding for the planned project.
Lord Mayor Sven Schulze: "This is very good news for Chemnitz as a centre for business and technology. I would like to thank everyone involved, especially our members of the Bundestag. Together, we will work towards further future investments in and for our city."
When funding was awarded last year, 60 million euros were allocated for the national hydrogen centre in Chemnitz. 95 million euros had been applied for.
60 million for hydrogen research in Chemnitz
HZwo network receives significant support for the hydrogen centre project
(2 September 2021) Chemnitz will be part of the nationwide hydrogen centre. This was announced on 2 September 2021 by Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer and the Saxon state government.
The HZwo network, which is based at Chemnitz University of Technology, will receive 60 million euros in funding. Alongside Duisburg (North Rhine-Westphalia) and Pfeffenhausen (Bavaria), future research into hydrogen will thus also be based in Chemnitz.
Lord Mayor Sven Schulze: "The decision in favour of Chemnitz as a location is an excellent one with a promising future. By awarding the contract, the federal government is supporting my efforts to drive forward the modernisation of teaching, research and industry in the city. For the Chemnitz researchers and the network, this award is an honour for their already outstanding work, for which I would like to offer my warmest congratulations. I will continue to do everything in my power to further develop Chemnitz and promote it as a location for future technologies. Today's decision is very good news for Chemnitz."
Concept bridges the gap between research and value creation
The HIC - Hydrogen and Mobility Innovation Centre brings together an alliance of 25 partners from industry, cutting-edge research, politics, associations and education under the coordination of the Saxon innovation cluster "HZwo - Antrieb für Sachsen" at one of the fastest-growing locations in Germany. Together, the alliance is applying for the German Hydrogen Technology and Innovation Centre in the location competition organised by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI). It is intended to help make the hydrogen economy "Made in Germany" internationally competitive.
The HIC pools the expertise and innovative capacity of its partners in order to drive forward the creation of added value based on fuel cells for vehicle applications The focus is not only on the Chemnitz economic region. SMEs, automotive suppliers and industrial companies from all over Germany have the opportunity to test and certify their innovations and develop new standards for the global market at the HIC.
The HIC can rely on strong partners for its establishment. The planned site is located in the immediate vicinity of Chemnitz University of Technology and the Fraunhofer Institutes IWU and ENAS on the Chemnitz Technology Campus. The HIC therefore benefits from existing structures.
For example, the Free State of Saxony and Vitesco Technologies are already investing around eleven million euros in the research and testing infrastructure for fuel cells and hydrogen technologies. In addition, there are pioneering alliances such as the "Smart Rail Connectivity Campus" for the digitalisation and automation of rail transport, which is being funded by the BMVI, the BMBF and the Free State of Saxony with more than 24 million euros.
The HIC is also supported by the City of Chemnitz, the University of Excellence TU Dresden, BMW Leipzig and many other companies and associations. The application of the HIC consortium is coordinated by the innovation cluster HZwo - Antrieb für Sachsen.
Chemnitz location
| 37,000 m² on a technology campus in Chemnitz in the neighbourhood of Chemnitz University of Technology, Fraunhofer IWU/ENAS |
| 5 vehicle and engine plants of VW, BMW and Porsche as well as around 780 suppliers, equipment suppliers and service providers in the automotive industry in Saxony |
| Direct connection to the university, urban and long-distance logistics infrastructure |
| Existing hydrogen infrastructure, vehicle and fuel cell laboratories can be utilised immediately |
| Green hydrogen supply has already been designed |
| Proximity to test tracks for road and rail vehicles |
| In 2019 and 2020, Vitesco Technologies and the Free State of Saxony made major investments totalling around 11 million euros in the hydrogen and fuel cell laboratories at the Chemnitz site |
Further information
In the "Innovation Cluster HZwo - Drive for Saxony" project, companies and research institutions from Saxony are working together to optimise cooperation between academic research and industry and to increase the innovative strength of companies.