Berlin, 06.05.2025 |


The Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) has published a white paper addressing the safe refueling of special hydrogen applications. This guideline paves the way for a broader use of hydrogen as an energy carrier in areas beyond road transportation and thus supports the transformation in various industries.

With the increasing importance of hydrogen as an energy source, new fields of application are emerging that place specific demands on the refueling infrastructure. Until now, only the refueling of road-legal vehicles was regulated by standards at public and non-public hydrogen refueling stations. The new CEP white paper “Safe refueling with hydrogen for special applications at public and non-public hydrogen refueling stations” closes this gap and offers solutions for technical and regulatory issues relating to the refueling of special applications such as mobile energy supply systems, construction machinery and agricultural equipment.

The authors of the white paper conclude that the refueling of special applications is technically feasible, but requires a clear regulatory framework. A key challenge lies in the different certification and testing requirements for special applications compared to road-legal vehicles. The white paper provides a detailed gap analysis of the technical requirements.

The authors also recommend:

1. Component qualification according to UN/ECE R134 and EU 2021/535 as the basis for safe refueling
   
2. Flexible verification for non-certified components by combining relevant standards
   
3. Consideration of specific requirements for different application types
   
4. Two-stage approval process: manufacturer documentation and operator approval

The solutions presented in the white paper enable manufacturers and operators to identify and implement the necessary safety standards for safe refueling. This promotes innovation in the hydrogen sector while ensuring the highest safety standards. The standardization and simplification of approval processes for the refuelling of special hydrogen applications represents an important step towards the broader use of hydrogen as an energy source beyond road transport.

The white paper “Safe refueling with hydrogen for special applications at public and non-public hydrogen filling stations” can be found here:

For further information on the white paper, please contact:

Clean Energy Partnership
Dr. Marcus Merkel, marcus.merkel@cep.expert

Clean Energy Partnership

The CEP is the leading expert committee 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 hydrogen innovation by developing refueling 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