Main dispenser at the hydrogen test filling station at the ZBT

HY-Infra – Cross-Border Project for the Analysis of the Hydrogen Infrastructure in the Rhine-Meuse Region

“HY-Infra” is a cross-border initiative aimed at advancing the expansion of hydrogen infrastructure in the Rhine-Meuse region. The project brings together partners from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany to address common challenges related to hydrogen infrastructure, demand aggregation, and hydrogen quality.

16 March 2026, Maastricht – Hydrogen plays a key role in achieving Europe’s climate and energy goals. The Rhine-Meuse region has a strong industrial base, a well-developed logistics sector, and a thriving inland waterway transport system.

“However, fragmented infrastructure planning, uncertainties regarding cross-border connections, and limited insights into hydrogen quality are currently hindering large-scale expansion. These obstacles are delaying scaling up, investment certainty, and broad acceptance,” explains Stefan Neis, HY-Infra project manager at WaterstofNet.“HY-Infra is now being launched to collaborate on the rollout of hydrogen infrastructure in the three countries, the harmonisation of permitting procedures, and so on.”

Planning Infrastructure, Mapping Demand, Ensuring Quality

HY-Infra is a cross-border project aimed at analysing the development of hydrogen infrastructure in the Meuse-Rhine region (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany). The project addresses the main barriers to the widespread adoption of hydrogen, including fragmented infrastructure planning, limited aggregation of demand, and a lack of knowledge about hydrogen quality in cross-border networks.

By bringing together industry, research institutions, and regional authorities, HY-Infra is developing an integrated analysis for infrastructure planning, demand mapping, and quality assurance for the period 2026 – 2035.

Group photo of ten people in a meadow in front of trees and a lake; two people are holding an oversized symbolic key

Hydrogen Planning for Industry and the Transportation Sector

HY-Infra aims to develop an integrated cross-border framework for hydrogen infrastructure planning between 2026 and 2035. This roadmap focuses on industry, the backbone of the region, and hydrogen refueling infrastructure (trucks, inland waterway transport, etc.). The project will assess regional hydrogen demand, coordinate infrastructure plans across borders, and develop a modular roadmap for stakeholders.

The key findings include:

a modular schedule
a transnational database on demand and infrastructure
as well as innovative solutions for monitoring hydrogen quality, including a mobile laboratory and testing campaigns

Mobile Hydrogen Laboratory

Since the quality of the hydrogen is of great importance, the project also includes the development of innovative solutions for monitoring hydrogen quality, including a mobile laboratory and a multigas analysis system. These instruments will support cross-border pilot activities and contribute to the establishment of a “Hydrogen Quality Competence Center” at the ZBT.

By strengthening cooperation between industry, small and medium-sized enterprises, research institutions, and government agencies, HY-Infra will create a platform for companies investing in hydrogen technologies and consolidate the Meuse-Rhine region’s position as an emerging European innovation hub for hydrogen.

technical equipment for sampling at hydrogen filling stations

Knowledge Sharing

The project also includes the creation of a transnational database on hydrogen demand, infrastructure planning, authorisations, and hydrogen quality data. In addition, workshops and a final conference will be organised to promote the exchange of knowledge among companies, policymakers, and regional stakeholders.

HY-Infra contributes to overarching European initiatives such as the “EU Hydrogen Backbone,” the AFIR infrastructure development for transportation, and the RH2INE corridor for inland waterway transport, thereby ensuring that the Rhine-Meuse region plays an active role in Europe’s hydrogen transition.

Project information

Project acronym: Hy-Infra

Project title: Hydrogen Infrastructure for the Meuse-Rhine region

Term: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 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).

The project is funded by the Interreg Meuse-Rhine program. This program is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). HY-Infra also receives co-financing from the Dutch province of North Brabant, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Climate, and Energy (EZK), and the Walloon Region.

Two people are discussing matters in front of the main control panel at the hydrogen test filling station on the ZBT hydrogen test site

Contact person

Head of Department Hydrogen Infrastructure

Dr.-Ing. Christian Spitta

+49 203 7598-4277

c.spitta@zbt.de

Media

Hydrogen technologies are being tested at system scale at the ZBT’s hydrogen test site.

Kick-off meeting for the HY-Infra project in Maastricht, the Netherlands

The Hy-SaM device can be used to take hydrogen samples at filling stations.

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