Hauptdispenser der Wasserstoff-Testtankstelle am ZBT

Hy-Infra – Hydrogen infrastructure for the Rhine-Mass region

Hy-Infra strengthens the cross-border hydrogen infrastructure in the Meuse-Rhine region. On the one hand, the Interreg project creates transparency about future hydrogen requirements and derives the necessary infrastructure by 2030/2035. On the other hand, the gas quality in the infrastructure is systematically analyzed.

Thinking infrastructures across national borders – a matter of course in the European Union. If the players in cross-border regions analyze, plan and implement together, synergy effects can be used to create and operate efficient structures.

In the “Hy-Infra” project network, WaterstofNet (NL), ANPLICON (DE), POM-Limburg (BE), Cluster Tweed (BE) and ZBT (DE) are working together on an international hydrogen infrastructure for the Rhine-Meuse region. Together they are developing

a digital demand map (“Demand Blueprint”),
an infrastructure blueprint for grids, HRS and bunkering and
a competence center for hydrogen quality including a database and mobile laboratory in the region.

Why Hy-Infra is important now

Hydrogen pipelines and logistics corridors cross national borders – at the same time, there is often a lack of coordinated planning, bundled demand and a reliable basis for implementation. For a cross-border hydrogen infrastructure in the Rhine-Meuse region, this is precisely where the Hy-Infra project comes in and supports joint planning, monitoring and standardization along European corridors.

Another key lever is the quality of hydrogen in the infrastructure: impurities from different production and distribution routes can influence connected industrial processes, emission limits and volume billing. For this reason, ZBT systematically analyzes trace substances and main components along the supply chain. The data collected is in turn used for standardization and the subsequent development of targeted cleaning processes.

What is created in the project – from needs assessment to quality assurance

Hy-Infra delivers concrete, implementation-oriented results: an inventory of future demand (2026-2035), the alignment of existing infrastructure plans with regional needs and a modular blueprint including a roadmap for 2030-2035.

As part of the project, the ZBT is setting up an “H₂ quality” competence center – with mobile sampling systems, a mobile hydrogen laboratory, regular sample campaigns (including online monitoring) and a transnational database on demand, permits and quality data.

Project information

Project acronym: Hy-Infra

Project title: Hydrogen Infrastructure for the Meuse-Rhine region

Term: January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2028

Total budget: € 2.0 million, of which EU funding € 1.2 million

Project partners:

WaterstofNet (NL)
ANPLICON (DE)
POM-Limburg (BE)
Cluster Tweed (BE)
ZBT (DE)

Further cooperation (selection): HyNetwork, Fluxys, OGE, Thyssengas (Backbone), municipalities (including Maastricht, Parkstad, Aachen, Liège, Genk) and development agencies (IHKs, LIOF).

Contact person

Dr.-Ing. Christian Spitta

+49 203 7598-4277

c.spitta@zbt.de

More about the department

Hydrogen Infrastructure

Other current projects at the ZBT

4. March, 2026

Hy-Infra – Hydrogen infrastructure for the Rhine-Mass region

Hy-Infra strengthens the cross-border hydrogen infrastructure in the Meuse-Rhine region. The Interreg project creates transparency about future hydrogen requirements and derives the necessary infrastructure by 2030/2035.

4. March, 2026

NH3Avi – Process for the inline production of metal-supported SOFC MEAs for aviation

Climate-neutral flying requires new energy sources – and new production technologies. NH3Avi is developing metal-supported SOFC membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) for use with ammonia in aviation.

24. February, 2026

LHYVE-Cycle – Intelligente Wartungskonzepte für wasserstoffführende Systeme

Die Partner im Projekt LHYVE-Cycle entwickeln ein innovatives System zum Spülen von Wasserstofftanks, um die In- und Außerbetriebnahme von Wasserstoffanlagen sicherer, schneller und in Bezug auf die verwendeten Gase sparsamer zu machen.

1. July, 2025

OptiCold – Safe cold start for fuel cells in mobile applications

OptiCold develops materials, cell architectures and operating strategies to enable PEM fuel cells to start safely and without damage even at temperatures as low as -25 °C. The aim is to provide robust, durable and practical solutions, especially for mobile heavy-duty applications.

1. July, 2025

FLOWMEX – More efficient fuel cells through systematically improved water management

Researchers want to significantly improve water management in fuel cells. Using model-based and experimental methods, they are developing a simulation tool that realistically depicts the transport of liquid water in gas diffusion layers and flow field channels.

1. July, 2025

Interface – Microstructured Bipolar Plates for Greater Power Density and Service Life

Using innovative laser-based microstructuring, this research project optimises the interface between the bipolar plate and the gas diffusion layer in fuel cells. This improves water flow and reduces electrical contact resistance, resulting in a performance increase of up to 30% and a significantly longer service life.

1. November, 2024

Corromap – Real-time Corrosion Measurements for Optimising Fuel Cells

Corrosion limits the performance and service life of fuel cells, which are important for a hydrogen economy. Against this background, the Corromap research project focuses on corrosion measurements during cell operation. Project partners are the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences in Iserlohn and the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Center Duisburg (ZBT).

1. November, 2024

HRS-Model – Free Simulation Model for Calculating Hydrogen Refuelling Systems

Designing hydrogen refuelling systems for reliable and safe operation is a major challenge due to constantly changing requirements and rapid technological development. The HRS-Modell which has now been published, aims to help.