Energy company Mabanaft is undertaking a project to develop a H₂ refueling station for heavy goods vehicles in Lübeck. This marks a significant step towards establishing a reliable H₂ economy in the mobility sector. The H₂ refueling station, designed by Hypion GmbH, will have a capacity of up to 2,000 kilograms of H₂ per day. It will be integrated into the network of Mabanaft's subsidiary Staack Pooltankstellen and is expected to be operational by the end of 2025.

The planned site for the H₂ refueling station is close to the junction of the A1 and A20 motorways, where Mabanaft already operates a diesel refueling station. The new facility will cater specifically to the needs of heavy goods vehicles and will be capable of supplying up to 50 trucks per day. Applications for construction have already been submitted, with construction scheduled to commence in the second half of the year. The project has received a grant of €5.1 MM under the German government's "Climate-friendly Commercial Vehicles and Infrastructure" (KsNI) program for 2022. The initiative aims is to further develop the market for H₂ and fuel cell technology, particularly for light and heavy commercial vehicles.

Mabanaft supports a multi-fuel approach with investment in H₂ refueling infrastructure.

“We are convinced of the multi-fuel approach – the idea that different fuel solutions can accelerate the energy transition. Our goal is to provide customers with tailored energy solutions to support their path to decarbonization. Our planned H₂ refueling station in Lübeck is a further commitment to this vision,” explained Volker Ebeling, Senior Vice President New Energy, Supply & Infrastructure at Mabanaft.

“H₂ has significant potential for heavy goods mobility, particularly for long-haul journeys. Refueling times and payload capacities are comparable to those of diesel-powered vehicles, with a range of up to 800 kilometers per tank,” emphasized Florian Lückmann, Head of Commercial Road Transport at Mabanaft. “We also aim to unlock H₂’s potential through a reliable and comprehensive H₂ refueling station network. To this end, we are planning the gradual development of a transnational H₂ refueling infrastructure.”

The EU's Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) mandates the construction of H₂ refueling stations for trucks and cars every 200 km along the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and at all urban hubs by 2030. With the H₂ refueling station in Lübeck, Mabanaft is contributing to the planned network. The company is particularly focused on developing H₂ refueling stations tailored to the performance and accessibility needs of heavy goods vehicles. Through its Swedish subsidiary PS Energi, Mabanaft has already built two H₂ refueling stations in Sweden and secured funding for three additional sites.

Mabanaft develops project with Hypion. Hypion, a project developer based in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, specializing in the H₂ economy, prepared the project for investment readiness. Mabanaft has now become the sole investor in the Lübeck site and will continue to implement the project in collaboration with Hypion. Subject to regulatory approvals, construction could commence in the summer. A knowledgeable and experienced regional partner is essential for such a project," said Volker Ebeling of Mabanaft. “In project developer Hypion, we have found a partner who shares our values, and our vision of an energy transition tailored to our customers.”

“Now is the time to accelerate progress in the transport sector and harness H₂ as an energy carrier to support economic decarbonization. The challenges remain significant, but with a forward-thinking and committed partner like Mabanaft, we can achieve this goal,” added Dr Stefan Rehm, Managing Director of Hypion.

The H₂ refueling station will be operated by Staack Pooltankstellen within the tankpool24 network. Tankpool24 is a market leader and specialist in the planning, construction and operation of 24/7 truck refueling stations. Its network comprises over 2,000 stations across Europe, including more than 750 in Germany. The Mabanaft Group is the largest shareholder in the tankpool24 group.