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Regulatory Sandbox H2-Wyhlen

Regulatory Sandbox H2-Wyhlen – Development and construction of a test bed for renewable, power-based hydrogen production involving the building, transport and industry sectors

Brief description

The H2-Wyhlen regulatory sandbox is one of the winners of the idea competition "Regulatory Sandboxes of the Energy Transition" organised by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy. The project focuses on power-to-gas as a key technology for the production of hydrogen (H2) based on renewable electricity ("green hydrogen"). The project relies on an existing 1 MW power-to-hydrogen plant operated by Energiedienst AG in southern German city Grenzach-Wyhlen. This plant works with renewable electricity from Energiedienst AG's adjacent Wyhlen hydropower plant.

Based on the existing infrastructure, the goal of the H2-Wyhlen regulatory sandbox is to test the demand-based generation, local distribution and use of hydrogen and the resulting process heat with viable business models. To this end, the topics of energy storage and neighbourhood supply are also being investigated with the inclusion and networking of all relevant stakeholders. Research is being carried out into the development of electrolysis technologies that can be manufactured on a large scale. Research is also being conducted into how the process heat can be reused. Accompanying social science research will also take into account the perspectives and assessments of citizens and stakeholders through the implementation of participation formats and surveys. After completion of the project funding, the overall system should be developed to such an extent that economic operation is possible.

DIALOGIK contribution

The focus of DIALOGIK's contribution is on organizing the participation of citizens and stakeholders in the H2-Wyhlen regulatory sandbox. In the sense of an inclusive and adaptive participation approach, all stakeholders potentially affected by the regulatory sandbox are invited for information and discussion as well as for the development of recommendations. In addition, the contribution of DIALOGIK consists in the analysis of the social embedding of the regulatory sandbox. Preferences, attitudes, needs, and acceptance factors of residents and citizens as well as stakeholders from companies, municipalities, and administrations will be researched through quantitative and qualitative surveys.

Project partners

  • Energiedienst AG (coordinator)
  • Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW)
  • Messer Group GmbH
  • DSM Nutritional Products (associated partner)