International hydrogen projects – module 1
International hydrogen projects – module 1
The global expansion of industrial production capacity for renewable hydrogen and the fuels produced from it creates a key prerequisite for the decarbonisation of several key sectors in Germany, foremost among them industry, aviation, maritime transport and heavy goods transport. Conversely, it offers the opportunity to scale up technologies developed in Germany and to roll them out and test them worldwide.
This is where the funding guidelines for international hydrogen projects, published by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, come into play. German companies can receive funding of up to 30 million euros for feasibility studies and investments in the development of industrial production capacities, provided that the project generates significant German or European added value and that an import route for the hydrogen products to Germany is established or prepared.
Those interested in funding may submit project outlines until 17 December 2026. To this end, the BMWE published a corresponding call for proposals on 23 September 2026.
Bekanntmachung
Funding information
Who can receive funding?
Under Module 1, funding may be awarded to companies that have their headquarters in the European Economic Area or Switzerland and have a permanent establishment or branch in Germany. The application must be submitted by the German branch or permanent establishment. Small and medium-sized enterprises are particularly encouraged to take part in this funding scheme.
Research institutions and universities based in Germany may receive funding for accompanying research work.
What will be funded?
Under Module 1, the BMWE provides funding for the construction of innovative pilot plants for the production of renewable hydrogen on an industrial scale. This enables the testing of promising technologies under various climatic conditions and in different application scenarios. Infrastructure for the storage and transport of renewable hydrogen may be funded in conjunction with a production plant constructed as part of the same project. Plants for converting renewable hydrogen into methane, ammonia, methanol or other renewable fuels of non-biological origin are also eligible for funding. Targeted funding for innovative plants in various application scenarios is intended to provide planning certainty for future producers, suppliers, consumers and other investors and research stakeholders both in Germany and abroad.
In addition to investment measures, feasibility studies for projects that meet the above criteria are eligible for funding.
Furthermore, universities and research institutions may receive support under Module 2 of the Funding Guidelines for International Hydrogen Projects if they provide targeted support for an investment measure or a feasibility study through research work.
A detailed description of the eligible project configurations and the requirements that must be met for a grant to be awarded can be found in the Funding Guidelines for International Hydrogen Projects from 2024. As some state aid requirements are set to change at the turn of the year 2026/2027, an amendment to the Funding Guidelines is currently being prepared.
The planned projects must be structured in such a way that they can be completed by 2030.
How is funding provided?
The aim of the funding guidelines is to support international, interdisciplinary and innovative projects for the production of renewable hydrogen and hydrogen products through non-repayable grants. The plant sites must be located outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland. The investments funded under Module 1 must be operated for their intended purpose for at least three years following commissioning (the first use of a technology in accordance with its intended purpose) (operational obligation). The applicant must demonstrate that the project would not be economically viable without funding and that it supports the development of import structures.
How and when are the projects to be funded selected?
The funding procedure is a two-stage process. The first step in participating in the funding scheme is to submit a project outline. A template and the ‘easy online’ electronic application system are available for this purpose. It is no longer necessary to submit hand-signed copies of the outline. Outlines may be submitted in German or English. You must clearly demonstrate that the exclusion criteria set out in the funding guidelines do not apply, that the eligibility requirements for funding are met, and how your project contributes to achieving the objectives of the funding guidelines.
The outlines received will be reviewed and assessed by Projektträger Jülich after the deadline for submission. The evaluation criteria are set out in section 10.3.2 of the funding guidelines. They include both hard criteria, such as the fundamental eligibility of a project proposal for funding, and qualitative criteria, such as the ratio of funding to expected benefits and the anticipated contributions to the three objectives of the funding guidelines. Projects assessed as eligible will take part in a selection process. The decision on which outline proposals to select for the second stage of the application process is made by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Selection decisions are expected to be finalised in the second quarter of 2027.
PtJ will invite the selected outline proposers to submit full application documents. Unlike in the outline phase, German is now the mandatory language. In addition, supporting documents such as quotations or other evidence of costs for plant, components and services, as well as documentation demonstrating the applicant’s financial capacity to provide the own contribution, are required.
Provided that the applications meet the substantive and funding-related requirements and the budgetary conditions are satisfied, the projects may commence in the second half of 2027. The submission of a concept or a funding application does not confer any legal entitlement to funding.