H2Nodes partners took part in a workshop discussion on best practices and innovative approaches for the deployment of light duty vehicles as part of the H2ME projects meeting.
The H2Nodes project was presented by Marc de Kroon, Arnhem Municipality, and Aivars Starikovs on behalf of the Coordinator Rigas Satiksme. An overview the H2Nodes project was presented, including the status of the real-life pilot deployments to date.
Following this, the innovative hydrogen trolleybus concept in Riga was explored, demonstrating that hydrogen provides an opportunity to expand the trolleybus network, replacing diesel bus routes.
Finally, Arnhem Municipality highlighted the progress made in their demand aggregation exercise to foster the uptake of fuel cell electric vehicles in the Arnhem region, carried out through the H2Drive initiative and funded by the province of Gelderland and Arnhem Municipality. This activity resulted in 70 drivers receiving a stimulation package, including discounted hydrogen refuelling costs at the Arnhem HRS, a service package, and an active community of drivers. Key challenges for demand aggregation were discussed, with recommendations for developing a demand-led hydrogen business case.
The most important lesson learned from the demand aggregation exercise is that the establishment of a viable market for the first HRS in a region requires more than just informing potential users. It should include an offer that is substantial enough to compensate for typical drawbacks for early users, such as limited overall HRS availability and HRS performance issues during start-up. This requires a financial commitment from stakeholders to avail funds for incentive packages. Refuelling at a specific HRS cannot be enforced, and it is also not desirable to limit FCEV drivers with respect to the refuelling location. However, in the Arnhem case a 50% discount on purchased fuel and the fact that
the targeted group has a working or living location in the region sufficiently secured the use of the targeted HRS.
Hydrogen Mobility Europe is a flagship European project, funded by the FCH JU, to deploy a pan-European network of hydrogen refuelling stations and fuel cell electric vehicles. H2Nodes, funded by the
Connecting Europe Facility of the European Union, focuses on the evolution of a European hydrogen refuelling station network by mobilising the local demand and value chains. Key learnings and best practice across the two projects can be shared in a collaborative way, contributing to the future development of the hydrogen industry in Europe.
You can download the presentation here.