Berlin, 16.April 2025 | The Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) has reached another important milestone: As a pioneer for hydrogen mobility, the CEP has continuously advanced the standardization of acceptance protocols for hydrogen refuelling stations and has now successfully handed over the associated acceptance process for refuelling station tests outside Germany to independent testing institutions. This step marks significant progress for the scaling of the hydrogen filling station infrastructure in Europe.

A good decade ago, the CEP began developing standardised testing and Acceptance Protocols for hydrogen refuelling stations. This work was harmonised with international standards and incorporated into the International Organisation for Standardisation as ISO 19880-1. As a binding European norm EN 17127, the standard is part of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), an EU regulation that defines minimum requirements for the infrastructure of alternative fuels and is therefore mandatory for all hydrogen refuelling station acceptances in Europe – an important step for safety in hydrogen mobility.

In order to do justice to the growing hydrogen refuelling station network of the future, the CEP has gradually built up acceptance capacities. Initially, the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) was trained to do the tests and to create reports. At the same time, the CEP offered free support for refuelling station operators and manufacturers through training courses and webinars.

In order to do justice to the growing hydrogen refuelling station network of the future, the CEP has gradually built up acceptance capacities. Initially, the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) was trained to do the tests and to create reports. At the same time, the CEP offered free support for refuelling station operators and manufacturers through training courses and webinars.

Around two and a half years ago, the CEP intensified its cooperation with leading testing institutions. Comprehensive training courses were held to prepare them to independently carry out hydrogen refuelling station inspections in Germany and Europe. After completing the training, these eight renowned testing institutions are now able to grant approvals for hydrogen refuelling stations conform to EN17127:

• Bureau Veritas has been accompanying the hydrogen industry as a trusted third party for decades. This recognition from the CEP further enhances the company’s expertise across the entire hydrogen value chain. Bureau Veritas is a world leader in inspection, certification, and laboratory testing services with a powerful purpose: to shape a world of trust by ensuring responsible progress. With a vision to be the preferred partner for customers’ excellence and sustainability, the company innovates to help them navigate change. Created in 1828, Bureau Veritas’ 84,000 employees deliver services in 140 countries. The company’s technical experts support customers to address challenges in quality, health and safety, environmental protection, and sustainability.

• Cesame-Exadebit is a French laboratory specialising in gas flowmetering, accredited for calibrations and mandatory verifications on the accuracy of gas meters and hydrogen dispensers for vehicles. For the latter, we have developed specific metrological equipment and qualified personnel for on-site interventions. Thanks to these capabilities and our almost ten years’ experience in this field, the CEP asked us to take an interest in verifying the test reports required by standards EN 17127 and ISO 19880. We are therefore particularly pleased to have successfully completed the training courses offered by the CEP and to be able to contribute, at our level, to hydrogen mobility in Europe.

• DEKRA: For 100 years, DEKRA has been a trusted name in safety. DEKRA has grown to become the world’s largest independent, non-listed expert organization in the field of testing, inspection, and certification. Around 48,000 employees worldwide generate an annual turnover of over 4.3 billion euros (2024). With its Industry business unit, DEKRA is a highly valued safety partner worldwide for technical equipment and processes. DEKRA experts offer numerous services along the entire value chain for the hydrogen economy: from energy generation and transport to hydrogen applications. In Germany, DEKRA has all the essential recognitions and authorizations for hydrogen technologies and has been involved in committees and associations for a safe, transparent and sustainable ramp-up of the hydrogen economy for many years. On 04 July 2024 DEKRA successfully completed the CEP training for the evaluation of refuelling protocols according to ISO 19880-1.

• Force Technology is a technology consultancy and service company which strives to create positive technological change and make the world more sustainable and safer. Since 1940, we have helped companies through major technological transformations: From rivets to welding. From oil adventure to wind turbines. From analogue to digital. And we still contribute to defining the technological future. With more than 1,000 employees in 20 offices in four countries and customers from more than 70 different countries, we are a leader when it comes to specialist consulting, testing, inspection and training. And as an RTO we are an important part of the backbone of the Danish innovation system.

• LRQA is a leading global assurance partner, delivering trusted assessment, advisory, inspection and cybersecurity services. With a particularly strong legacy in technical assurance, LRQA provides global expertise in hydrogen infrastructure development, helping operators navigate complex regulations and in complying with both national and international standards in relevant hydrogen markets. Its international network delivers consistent, high-quality inspections and certifications, supporting the safe, scalable growth of hydrogen mobility.

• TÜV Nord: As a technology service provider with over 150 years of experience, TÜV NORD is your independent partner for safety, quality, and hazard reduction. Hydrogen is a multifaceted topic, encompassing production, transportation, storage, and utilization. We specialize in the testing, inspection, and certification of various aspects of hydrogen technology to ensure the highest standards. Additionally, TÜV NORD has been trained by the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) to evaluate refueling protocols in accordance with DIN EN 17127. With our expertise, we support manufacturers, constructors, and operators of hydrogen refueling stations through comprehensive testing and acceptance services.

• TÜV Rheinland has wide-ranging expertise in the testing of hydrogen applications and the development of standards in this area. This includes, for example, the refueling of hydrogen vehicles. We have been in close exchange with operators of hydrogen refueling stations for many years and have helped develop the future minimum requirements for testing hydrogen refueling stations. The aim is to ensure interoperability.

• TÜV Süd: In the field of hydrogen technology, TÜV SÜD is active along the entire value chain, e.g. with regard to the certification and inspection of electrolysis plants for hydrogen production, of haz-ardous goods containers for road transport, of hydrogen pipelines or hydrogen filling stations. In the road transport sector, TÜV SÜD has extensive experience as a technical service provider in the testing and approval and homologation of hydrogen vehicles and their components.

Elena Hof, board member and spokesperson for the Clean Energy Partnership, explains: ‘Handing over the acceptance process to the independent testing institutions enables scalable and efficient acceptance of hydrogen refuelling stations, which will significantly accelerate the expansion of the infrastructure. This is a decisive contribution to scaling hydrogen mobility and directly supports the EU’s ambitious climate targets.’

The CEP will continue to be available as a competent contact for questions relating to the acceptance of hydrogen refuelling stations in accordance with EN 17127, especially in the event of ambiguities in the interpretation of the standards and for special applications. The CEP will also continue to train interested third parties in the application of EN 17127 in order to meet the growing demands of the industry.

Clean Energy Partnership

The CEP is the leading expert body for hydrogen mobility in Germany and Europe. As a cross-industry forum, the CEP works independently and, in a technology,-neutral manner on the development and implementation of international norms and standards along the entire hydrogen mobility value chain. Its aim is to make hydrogen in mobility more efficient, safer and more cost-effective. The CEP drives innovation by developing refuelling standards, improving technologies and components and establishing test systems. With its comprehensive expertise, it supports well-founded industrial policy decisions and thus promotes the sustainable transformation of the mobility sector.

Press Contact

Clean Energy Partnership (CEP)
Sybille Riepe, sybille.riepe@cep.expert, 0170 587 03 17

Bureau Veritas
Malek Malouche, malek.malouche@bureauveritas.com, +33 6 72 34 19 07
Clément Poutriquet, clement.poutriquet@bureauveritas.com, +33 6 84 12 63 92

Cesame-Exadebit
Rémy Maury, r.maury@cesame-exadebit.fr, +33 549 379 126

DEKRA
Tilman Vögele-Ebering, tilman.voegele-ebering@dekra.com, 0711 78 61 21 22

FORCE Technology
Pernille Thorborg Jasper, ptja@forcetechnology.com, +45 42 62 74 94

LRQA
Kerstin Alhajsuleiman, kerstin.alhajsuleiman@lrqa.com, +49 151 17 20 58 91

TÜV Nord
Martin Franz, mafranz@tuev-nord.de, +49 160 88 84 922

TÜV Rheinland
contact@press.tuv.com, +49 221 806 21 48, www.tuv.com/presse

TÜV Süd
Raphael Mayer (M.Sc.), raphael.mayer@tuvsud.com, +49 151 51 70 19 50