OSLO, NORWAY: To solve the issue of fuelling infrastructure, STRING members and six private companies initiated a cross border public/private partnership to invest in a series of hydrogen fuelling stations, with the help of EU funding.

STRING is a membership organisation that connects local governments from Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, to collaborate on cross-border infrastructure development, facilitate the green transition in the transport sector and accelerate innovation and export in green tech.

If approved, the project GREATER4H will accelerate the deployment of hydrogen vehicles in the entire megaregion and make Northern Europe a global frontrunner in the green transition of road transport.

The private partners Everfuel (DK), Hynion (NO) and GP JOULE (DE) will build and operate the refuelling stations, while Quantron Mechanics (DE) will lead the work in developing financial and market incentives needed to increase demand for hydrogen trucks.

GREATER4H will act as catalyst in speeding up deliveries of hydrogen vehicles from equipment manufacturer. In addition, Ørsted (DK) and RENOVA (SE) have joined GREATER4H as associated partners to contribute with unique perspectives on supply of green hydrogen and end-user perspective as operators of hydrogen trucks.

The 13 public authorities in STRING will contribute to GREATER4H by encouraging harmonized regulation related to the roll-out of hydrogen infrastructure.

The project was developed under the STRING chairmanship of Schleswig-Holstein and Schleswig-Holstein will lead GREATER4H in the future.

According to Minister of Justice, European Affairs and Consumer Protection, Claus Christian Claussen “a zero-emission transport sector is only possible with a zero-emission fuelling network. If we succeed, Greater4H will be a great leap forward for the green transition, and it will illustrate how we can achieve a full decarbonization of road transport.”

The alternatives to fossil fuels are already here, and hydrogen fuel cell technology is a bright green hope for a seamless zero-emission revolution in road transport.

A hydrogen vehicle refuels in 5-12 minutes, making it possible to transport goods and people without the logistical challenges of charging battery-operated alternatives. Moreover, hydrogen vehicles are silent, and their only by-product is water.

However, to make hydrogen fuels a reliable alternative to petrol and diesel, we have to make it available.

By supporting the introduction of hydrogen vehicles through the establishment of fuelling infrastructure, local governments provide the opportunity to put an end to the era of fossil fuels and eliminate hazardous particle pollution and CO2 emission from the transport sector.