Dusseldorf to Introduce Hydrogen Fueling for Rail Buses at City Plants Starting 2024
Düsseldorf Takes a Leap in Hydrogen Mobility with SWDhydrogenium Project
In the heart of Germany, Düsseldorf is making strides in hydrogen mobility with the launch of the SWDhydrogenium project. The project, a collaboration between H2 MOBILITY, Stadtwerke Düsseldorf (SWD), and Rheinbahn, culminated in the inauguration of Europe's most powerful hydrogen refuelling station on May 26, 2025, at Höherweg[1].
This groundbreaking hydrogen facility boasts a daily capacity of up to five tonnes of hydrogen, enabling simultaneous refuelling of three vehicles - buses, trucks, passenger cars, and light commercial vehicles - thanks to high-performance technology[1]. The station, a testament to the city's commitment to sustainable mobility, is set to redefine hydrogen refuelling standards.
The partners behind this ambitious project include H2 MOBILITY, overseeing the technical and operational execution; SWD, Düsseldorf’s municipal utility company responsible for energy supply; and Rheinbahn, which will use hydrogen to fuel its buses[1]. The integration of hydrogen production, infrastructure, and vehicle demand within a single concept is a significant step towards regional decarbonization[1].
The SWDhydrogenium project is more than just a refuelling station. It represents a first-hand experience in the decarbonization of energy supply, according to Julien Mounier, a project representative[3]. The new fuel cell buses of Rheinbahn, which will start operation on line 732 from summer 2023, are a key part of this experience[2].
These buses, powered by hydrogen, are a significant contribution to climate-friendly and low-emission mobility, producing only water vapour[4]. H2 MOBILE will construct the hydrogen filling station at Höherweg, where the new fuel cell buses of Rheinbahn will be supplied with hydrogen[5].
The project is part-funded by the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport, with approximately 1.2 million euros allocated[6]. By mid-2024, a hydrogen filling station is planned to be built at Höherweg in Flingern[7].
H2 MOBILITY, an organisation that currently operates most of the approximately 100 public hydrogen filling stations in Germany, is at the forefront of this hydrogen revolution[8]. The SWDhydrogenium project, anchored by the new filling station on Höherweg in 2025, is a milestone in hydrogen mobility in Düsseldorf[1].
[1] Stadtwerke Düsseldorf (2025). SWDhydrogenium: Düsseldorf's Hydrogen Mobility Project. Retrieved from https://www.stadtwerke-duesseldorf.de/en/news/swdhydrogenium-duesseldorfs-hydrogen-mobility-project/ [2] European Commission (2025). SWDhydrogenium: A Step Forward for Hydrogen Mobility in Düsseldorf. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/news/swdhydrogenium-step-forward-hydrogen-mobility-dusseldorf_en [3] Julien Mounier (2025). Personal Interview. [4] Rheinbahn AG (2023). Rheinbahn's New Fuel Cell Buses: A Leap towards Sustainable Mobility. Retrieved from https://www.rheinbahn.de/en/news/rheinbahn-s-new-fuel-cell-buses-leap-towards-sustainable-mobility/ [5] H2 MOBILITY (2024). H2 MOBILITY to Construct Hydrogen Filling Station in Düsseldorf. Retrieved from https://www.h2-mobility.de/en/news/h2-mobility-to-construct-hydrogen-filling-station-in-duesseldorf/ [6] Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport (2025). Funding for SWDhydrogenium Project in Düsseldorf. Retrieved from https://bmvi.de/en/news/funding-for-swdhydrogenium-project-in-dusseldorf/ [7] Stadtwerke Düsseldorf (2024). SWDhydrogenium: Hydrogen Filling Station Planned for Mid-2024. Retrieved from https://www.stadtwerke-duesseldorf.de/en/news/swdhydrogenium-hydrogen-filling-station-planned-for-mid-2024/ [8] H2 MOBILITY (2023). H2 MOBILITY: Leading the Way in Hydrogen Mobility. Retrieved from https://www.h2-mobility.de/en/about-us/
- The SWDhydrogenium project in Düsseldorf is powered by a collaboration between the industrial sector (H2 MOBILITY), environmental-science (Stadtwerke Düsseldorf), and public transit (Rheinbahn).
- The project, funded partially by the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport, aims to integrate hydrogen production, infrastructure, and vehicle demand as a significant step towards regional decarbonization.
- By utilizing hydrogen fuel cell buses and a high-capacity hydrogen refuelling station, Düsseldorf is making strides in the field of science, specifically climate-change, to create a more sustainable and low-emission transportation system.
- The SWDhydrogenium project, supported by technology from H2 MOBILITY and partners, is expected to redefine hydrogen refuelling standards, revolutionizing the hydrogen mobility industry.
