Freiburg's Green Hydrogen Project to Revolutionize Waste Management
Freiburg is set to revolutionize its waste management with a groundbreaking green hydrogen project. The city, along with its partners, is investing around 8 million euros to produce hydrogen on-site, powering its municipal waste disposal fleet and paving the way for long-term sustainability.
The project, led by ASF Solar GmbH, involves building an electrolyzer and a photovoltaic plant on the Eichelbuck site starting in 2026. Initially, the hydrogen refueling station will be supplied by a regional gas supplier, with the potential for green hydrogen in the summer. Once operational, the station will provide a reliable supply for the municipal vehicle fleet and allow for future expansion.
The project has received substantial support, with 4.25 million euros already secured from various sources. These include the state of Baden-Württemberg, the City of Freiburg's Future Fund, and the Innovations and Technology Promotion Society (itg) via the 'Hydrogen Valley South Baden' project. The Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung also contributed 150,000 euros to finance a study discussing the project idea.
The new hydrogen refueling station, set to be fully operational in 2026, will mark a significant step towards climate-neutrality by 2035. With the fleet refueled using locally produced green hydrogen, the project serves as a lighthouse for the region's hydrogen ramp-up. Badenova AG & Co. KG, the City of Freiburg, and ASF have already demonstrated their commitment by opening a hydrogen refueling station at Eichelbuck, signaling a strong push for sustainable mobility and the municipal energy transition.
