In an era dominated by rising energy prices and the public discussion about the future of energy, innovations for efficient and environmentally-friendly energy use are increasingly gaining in significance. Such innovations are intended to relieve the burden placed on the environment and liberate us from our major dependence on fossil fuels, which in many cases are located in regions which are the scene of political conflict.

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One such innovation - in the opinion of many experts - seems to be the use of linkhydrogen in the long term; in both the stationary and mobile sectors it has the potential to become the fuel of the future.

Hydrogen is regarded as a chemical multi-talent - it may be produced in a diversity of ways (with fossil fuels as well as renewable energy sources and atomic power) and to a virtually unlimited extent, has a high degree of efficiency, may be used in a variety of applications, and is gentle on the environment. It offers an abundance of opportunities to make our energy future ecologically and economically sustainable as its combustion exclusively creates pure water.

However there are still many obstacles to be overcome on the road to an energy future with hydrogen; thus the use of hydrogen on a wide scale - so that it is accessible for everybody every day - is still a major challenge: Technologies have to be developed anew and tested through to series maturity, their economic efficiency and broad customer acceptance prior to market launch secured, and framework conditions such as a country-wide infrastructure fulfilled.

This objective led in 1997, with the financial support of the Bavarian state government, to the launch of the pilot project "Arbeitsgemeinschaft am Flughafen München”; with the demonstration project that was renamed H2argemuc in 2005 the foundation was laid for the establishment of the European hydrogen network. Within the framework of the ten-year project the partner group was able to demonstrate the suitability of hydrogen for everyday use in mobile applications. After the filling station had completed the important step from the prototype stage to market maturity, the pilot project was able to celebrate its successful conclusion on 31.12.2006. 

An extensive overview of all four phases and details of the various results is offered by the project brochure „H2argemuc – A Success“.