International hydrogen projects – module 1

An initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)

Note: this page only contains information about module 1 of the funding guideline. For information about module 2, please follow this link (German only).

Hydrogen will be a key element in the success of the energy transition – not only in Germany, but worldwide. For this reason, the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), together with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), has published a funding guideline for international cooperation in the development of ‘green’ hydrogen production plants. The measure is intended to support the international market ramp-up in line with the German government’s National Hydrogen Strategy. The funding program is intended to promote the establishment of trade relations with potential exporters of green hydrogen and its derivatives. The funded projects must be finished operationally by the end of 2027.

Submission Deadline:Project proposal phase 1 (German: Skizzenphase) ( expired: 04. October 2021 – 31. October 2021 )
Submission Deadline:Project proposal phase 2 (German: Skizzenphase) ( expired: 01. November 2021 – 31. December 2021 )
Submission Deadline:Project proposal phase 3 (German: Skizzenphase) ( expired: 01. January 2022 – 28. February 2022 )
Bekanntmachung

Funding information

Who can receive funding?

Applicants for Module 1 must have their headquarters in the European Union and a permanent establishment or branch in Germany at the time the grant is paid. The funding guideline supports projects in energy partnership countries. In addition, projects in other countries can be funded as well.

Legal entities under private law and natural persons are also eligible to apply, provided that they are economically-active in accordance with the meaning of Section 2 (1) of the German Value Added Tax Act (Umsatzsteuergesetz). Universities and research institutions are eligible in association with companies. Corporate consortia are eligible to apply if the share of value added by the participating eligible company or companies is at least 51 percent.

What will be funded?

Within the framework of the funding guideline, international, interdisciplinary, and innovative projects are to be funded. Module 1 focuses on projects in the field of industrial application and experimental development. The projects are to be implemented in countries outside the territory of the European Union and the EFTA states (country of implementation). The subsidized investments must be operated for at least three years after commissioning (first intended use of a technology), in accordance with its purpose (obligation to use). The applicant must prove that the project would not be economically-viable without funding.

Within Module 1, the BMWi is funding, in particular, sustainable production options, storage facilities, and transport options, as well as integrated application solutions for green hydrogen and its derivatives, which are to be systematically-developed in cooperation with partner countries outside the European Union and EFTA states. Funding may also include integrated projects covering several value-added steps. In accordance with the action plan for the National Hydrogen Strategy, the funded projects should focus on the entire value chain, thereby creating planning security for future producers, suppliers, consumers, and other investors and research players in Germany and abroad.

Under the funding guideline, advanced approaches can also be developed further, to the point of reference capability, in order to accelerate the achievement of the market maturity of technologies and to support the accumulation of implementation experience in different geographical and climatic conditions. Technology Readiness Level should reach from 7 to 9 at the beginning and the end, respecitively, of the project. This intends to help bridge the difficult phase gap between technology development and market penetration.

Further details on eligible topics can be found in Section 5, “Object of funding”(German: "Gegenstand der Förderung") of the funding guidelines.

Project Management Jülich: the year 2023 in numbers
1.629
Employees
30.770
Ongoing projects
3392,05
millions in funding disbursed
4
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