HyExpert HyNATuRe – Feasibility Study for a Hydrogen Economy in the Neckar-Alb Region

In the HyNATuRe project (Hydrogen – Neckar-Alb-Tuebingen-Reutlingen), the RLI prepares a feasibility study as part of a project consortium. A regional hydrogen economy is to be developed and established in the Baden-Wurttemberg region.

The entire project builds on the findings of the previous project HyStarter. To this end, the RLI already consulted relevant project stakeholders in 2021. In this context, a cross-county network developed project ideas for the counties of Reutlingen and Tübingen. These ideas are now being concretized and implemented with the help of HyExperts funding. Within the framework of HyNATuRe, the scientists of the RLI will now accompany the hydrogen region over a period of one year. The main focus will be on the creation and evaluation of energy system modeling and simulations. The RLI is working on similar projects as part of the HyExpert program, for example in the Havelland region in Brandenburg and in Chemnitz.

Hydrogen as a sustainable energy carrier in the Reutlingen and Tübingen region

The aim of the HyNATuRe project is to develop hydrogen as a sustainable energy carrier in the Reutlingen and Tübingen region. In the HyExpert region HyNATuRe in the Neckar-Alb area, a regional hydrogen economy is to be developed and established for this purpose. This hydrogen economy includes the following components:

• Production of green hydrogen
• Strengthening of climate-friendly mobility
• Use of regional green hydrogen in industrial processes
• Transfer of the results to the population and industry

About the HyExpert region Reutlingen-Tübingen

The district of Reutlingen has about 290,000 inhabitants, Tübingen about 230,000. Both districts attribute an important future role to hydrogen as an energy carrier. All local companies are invited to participate in the network to develop an implementation concept for the regional hydrogen economy. HyExpert is the second stage of the HyLand program funded by the German Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport. The competition motivates stakeholders in all regions of Germany to initiate, plan and implement hydrogen-related concepts. HyExperts regions are already familiar with the topic of hydrogen. Before participating in the HyLand competition, initial actors, networks and project ideas are already in place. In the course of the program, the regions develop feasibility studies for concrete hydrogen projects on site, so that practical implementation is possible.

Project duration: August 2022 – July 2023

• Data collection in the region
• Creation of models and simulations for the future hydrogen economy