Rhine Rail Buses Set to Transition to Hydrogen Power Starting 2024 in Dusseldorf
In the heart of Düsseldorf, on Höherweg, a pioneering project was inaugurated on May 26, 2025. The city's new hydrogen filling station, a joint venture between H2 MOBILITY, Rheinbahn, and Stadtwerke Düsseldorf, marks a significant step forward in hydrogen mobility. This state-of-the-art station boasts a daily capacity of up to five tonnes of hydrogen and can refuel up to three vehicles simultaneously, catering to buses, trucks, passenger cars, and light commercial vehicles.
The opening of the Düsseldorf hydrogen filling station is part of a larger project aimed at gaining experience for the decarbonization of energy supply. Starting summer 2023, Rheinbahn's new fuel cell buses will be deployed on line 732, contributing to the city's sustainable transportation efforts.
The station's technology is powered by proprietary high-performance technology, setting a new standard in hydrogen mobility infrastructure. This project exemplifies cutting-edge technology and collaboration between public utilities and hydrogen technology operators, backed by German federal climate goals and funding programs.
The hydrogen supply for the station is secured through a major framework agreement between Air Liquide and H2 MOBILITY. Air Liquide will provide up to 1,000 tons of renewable hydrogen annually from its “Trailblazer” electrolyzer in Oberhausen, with the goal to operate all H2 MOBILITY stations on renewable hydrogen by 2028.
Despite the significant investment required for such infrastructure, the exact cost data and project start timeline have not been publicly detailed. However, given the scale and advanced technology, it is likely a substantial investment supported by public and private partnerships, consistent with funding frameworks for hydrogen initiatives in Germany.
Julien Mounier, a prominent figure in the energy industry, asserts that hydrogen will play a role in the future of energy. H2 MOBILITY, the organisation that operates most of the around 100 public hydrogen filling stations in Germany, is at the forefront of this shift. The Düsseldorf hydrogen filling station is a testament to their commitment to sustainable transportation and the future of hydrogen mobility.
References:
- H2 MOBILITY
- Rheinbahn
- Stadtwerke Düsseldorf
- Air Liquide
- German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety
- The Düsseldorf hydrogen filling station, a collaboration between H2 MOBILITY, Rheinbahn, and Stadtwerke Düsseldorf, signifies a progression in climate-change mitigation through environmental-science, as it caters to transportation needs.
- Junien Mounier, an industry leader, believes hydrogen will be essential in the future of energy, with H2 MOBILITY, operating most German public hydrogen filling stations, spearheading this transition.
- The technology powering the Düsseldorf hydrogen filling station establishes a new standard in hydrogen mobility infrastructure, a testament to advanced technology's role in addressing sustainable transportation.
- Air Liquide, a key player, will provide renewable hydrogen annually to the Düsseldorf station as part of a large-scale collaborative effort driven by national climate goals and finance mechanisms in Germany.
