PROJECT FUNDING
Innovative hydrogen Demonstration Region Rhenish mining district
Green hydrogen from renewable energies is a key element of the energy transition and plays a decisive role in achieving global climate targets. Technologies for the production, storage, transport and utilisation of green hydrogen have considerable potential for value creation – at a global, national and regional level.
The Helmholtz Cluster for a sustainable and infrastructure-compatible hydrogen economy
(HC-H2) researches, develops and demonstrates innovative hydrogen technologies in the areas of production, logistics and utilisation. The focus is on technologies that utilise existing infrastructures or infrastructures that can be installed quickly and cheaply for the storage and transport of hydrogen. In addition to technological approaches to utilising the natural gas network for hydrogen transport, HC-H2 is primarily pursuing approaches to chemical hydrogen storage using the infrastructure for liquid energy carriers, for example hydrogen storage in the form of methanol and other alcohols, in dehydratable alicyclic liquids (LOHC technology) and in the form of ammonia or formic acid.
The HC-H2 is designed as a scientific and technological lighthouse. The aim is to accelerate the development of a sustainable hydrogen economy through practically relevant research and specifically to drive forward the structural change of the Rhineland mining area. The Institute for Sustainable Hydrogen Economy (INW) at Forschungszentrum Jülich serves as the scientific and organisational core.
Hydrogen demonstration projects combine research with practical testing and are intended to establish a regional innovation cluster by strengthening knowledge and technology transfer. The Rhenish mining district is to become an innovative hydrogen demonstration region with extensive new entrepreneurial activities and sustainable value creation.
The hydrogen demonstration region depends on the participation of all relevant stakeholders from the Rhenish mining area. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research is therefore calling on companies, research institutions and other public and private organisations based in the Rhenish mining area [1] to submit proposals for hydrogen demonstration projects.
[1] Rhein-Kreis Neuss, Kreis Düren, Rhein-Erft-Kreis, Städteregion Aachen, Kreis Heinsberg, Kreis Euskirchen and Stadt Mönchengladbach; see Investitionsgesetz Kohleregionen, § 2, No. 2.
Call for submissions of expressions of interest
As a first step, interested parties are now invited to submit expressions of interest. These should highlight the following aspects on a maximum of three pages:
- Technical description of the demonstration project with presentation of its innovative character
- Implementation goals and economic impetus for the Rhenish mining area
- Possible partner structure
- Time and cost planning
We recommend that you use the template provided below to submit your expression of interest.
Expressions of interest can be submitted on an ongoing basis to the contact address below. The expressions of interest received will be published on
quarter (31 March, 30 June, 30 September, 31 December) on the basis of the following key criteria:
- Thematic suitability
- Innovative content and desired gain in knowledge
- Realisability in the Rhenish mining area and transferability to other regions
- Impact of the project on structural change in the Rhenish mining area
- Appropriateness of the planned project/partner structure and cost planning
In the event of a positive initial assessment, applicants are asked to prepare a complete project outline together with the project coordinators at HC-H2. The further procedural steps are based on the requirements of the funding guidelines below.
Submission
We recommend that you use the template provided here to submit your expression of interest
The e-mail address where you can submit the expression of interest:
This is an informal call for funding based on the announcement of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research for the funding of grants within the framework of the 7th Energy Research Programme of the Federal Government ‘Innovations for the Energy Transition’ of 06.02.2019 (https://www.bmbf.de/foerderungen/bekanntmachung-2337.html), amended by the announcement of 27.09.2021 (https://www.bmbf.de/bmbf/shareddocs/bekanntmachungen/de/2021/10/2021-10-07-%C3%84nderungsbekanntmachung-Energiewende.html). The provisions of this funding announcement apply in full.