The Hydrogen Acceleration Act places hydrogen infrastructure under the overriding public interest and explicitly names hydrogen refuelling stations in the annex to the Act. However, what this means in concrete terms for approval procedures often remains unclear in practice – with the result that procedures stall, responsibilities remain unclear and avoidable delays occur.
The CEP recommendation shows how approval procedures for hydrogen refuelling stations can be systematically classified, prioritized and efficiently managed. The functional assessment is central to this: the decisive factor is not the specific technical characteristics of a facility, but its ability to provide a safe and reliable supply of hydrogen. The law is designed to be open to all technologies – and approval practice must follow this principle, whether it concerns different pressure levels, forms of storage or applications.
The recommendation is supplemented by specific information on procedural management, the role of project sponsors and an overview of further CEP documents and working aids for authorities, planners, operators and inspection organizations.
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