60 million for hydrogen research in Chemnitz
HZwo network receives significant support from the federal government for the hydrogen centre project
Chemnitz is to become part of the nationwide hydrogen centre. This was announced on Thursday by Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer and the Saxon state government.
The HZwo network, which is based at Chemnitz University of Technology, will receive funding totalling 60 million euros. 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 centre of future technology. Today's decision is very good news for Chemnitz."
The Federal Ministry of Transport wants to use the new national centre to support industry and society in the transition to hydrogen. Researchers at the centre will focus on the entire value chain of hydrogen and fuel cell technology for mobility applications.
Under the direction of the HZwo e.V. innovation cluster, the Hydrogen and Mobility Innovation Centre (HIC) in Chemnitz has developed a concept to offer the best conditions for hydrogen activities as part of the national hydrogen strategy.
The Chemnitz concept is backed by a broad alliance of Saxon companies, research institutions and universities. Associations and state politicians also support the project based in Chemnitz. The HIC stakeholders have proven expertise in hydrogen technologies along the entire value chain.
The Chemnitz site already has an established research infrastructure thanks to the cooperation between the Chair of Alternative Vehicle Drives at Chemnitz University of Technology and the Fraunhofer Institutes IWU and ENAS. The HIC intends to focus on the development, testing and certification of fuel cell drives for road and rail vehicles as well as the training and further education of specialists.
To this end, a state-of-the-art campus with a vehicle laboratory, test benches and a training centre is to be built in the immediate vicinity of the university. The first step is to create 80 to 120 jobs for researchers and technicians at the HIC.