• Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR)
  • Deadline for submission of project proposals: 18 December 2025
  • End of duration: 31 December 2028

The updated funding guideline for international hydrogen projects, which was issued by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, takes on board the lessons learned from the funding guideline of 2021 and takes account of the progress made on market development since then. It therefore supports the swift and targeted establishment of a global market for renewable hydrogen and its derivatives, the application of German technologies, and the preparation and implementation of import routes to Germany.

German companies are eligible to apply for a partial refund of investments costs for projects outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland. Funding can also be provided towards research projects undertaken by institutes of higher education and research institutions.

Under module 1, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy is continuing to support the establishment of production facilities for renewable hydrogen and its derivatives, whilst now also providing funding for accompanying or preparatory scientific analyses and studies (such as feasibility studies). Funding for storage infrastructure and the transport of renewable hydrogen will no longer be separate focal areas, but be eligible only if they are undertaken as part of a production project. Funding from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space is made available under module 2, which supports accompanying projects in the fields of basic and industrial research and scientific studies and training measures, all of which need to be linked to an international project receiving funding under module 1. These accompanying projects can be located anywhere along the entire value chain for hydrogen, from its production to storage and transport, including horizontal, systemic issues.

Companies interested in funding towards their cost of investment can submit their project proposals by 18 December 2025. The funding is still subject to the adoption of the federal budget for 2026. The funding guideline is administered by Project Management Jülich.

The funding guideline implements the 2023 version of the National Hydrogen Strategy in line with the Hydrogen Import Strategy of July 2024.

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