Inauguration of Luxembourg's first hydrogen filling station, in Bettembourg
On 26 September 2023, François Bausch, Minister for Mobility and Public Works, Claude Turmes, Minister for Energy, Joëlle Welfring, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development, in the presence of representatives of CFL, TotalEnergies Marketing Luxembourg, WaterstofNet and the European Commission, inaugurated Luxembourg's first hydrogen (H2) filling station, located in Bettembourg.
The commissioning of this hydrogen filling station is a key stage in the implementation of Luxembourg's hydrogen strategy. This public hydrogen station is part of the European "H2Benelux" project, co-financed by the European Commission as part of the European Interconnection Mechanism (EIM) programme, which aims to significantly expand the existing public hydrogen refuelling infrastructure and increase the number of hydrogen-powered vehicles in the Benelux.[1].
This first public hydrogen station in Luxembourg is located in the ZAE Wolser A in Bettembourg, at the CFL secure road centre (CRS), in the colours of TotalEnergies. It is now possible to supply light vehicles, commercial vehicles and heavy goods vehicles with hydrogen at 350 and 700 bar.
"The new European Regulation 2023/1804 of 13 September 2023 on the deployment of an infrastructure for alternative fuels, which is part of the European Commission's 'Fit for 55' package, not only provides for the establishment of a European network of hydrogen refuelling stations by 2030 at the latest, but also strongly recommends that these stations be deployed at multimodal hubs and therefore on the CFL multimodal platform. I am therefore delighted that the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is already ensuring that the necessary hydrogen infrastructure is deployed at the most promising locations and is capable of fuelling any type of hydrogen-powered road vehicle, in order to facilitate the decarbonisation of the transport sector", explains François Bausch, Minister for Mobility and Public Works.
The Minister for Energy, Claude Turmes, is delighted with the opening of this hydrogen station: "Green hydrogen is an important element in our strategy to decarbonise transport; it is a promising alternative in certain sectors that are difficult to decarbonise by direct electrification, such as the heavy goods vehicle sector. For this very first H2 station in Luxembourg, it was important to ensure that it sold only renewable hydrogen."
Joëlle Welfring, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development, points out that the transport sector is currently responsible for 60% of the greenhouse gas emissions attributed to Luxembourg: "Meeting our climate targets will inevitably involve speeding up the transition to zero-emission mobility. Among the many measures to decarbonise the transport sector, renewable hydrogen will play an important role for means of transport that do not lend themselves to electrification."
Barbara Chevalier, Managing Director of CFL Multimodal, added: "Our commitment to activity at the Bettembourg-Dudelange terminal enables us to save almost 200,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. With this in mind, we are determined to innovate and invest to meet our customers" needs. The new H2 station fits in perfectly with our vision of offering our customers more sustainable transport solutions, while helping to reduce their carbon footprint, including on pre- and post-road haulage."
TotalEnergies is building a multi-energy future and is committed to carbon neutrality by 2050. Luxembourg has great ambitions in terms of sustainable development and the development of cleaner and more sustainable transport. "As TotalEnergies in Luxembourg, we are delighted to be able to contribute to this with the opening of the country's first hydrogen refuelling station. This is a new step in the expansion of this energy and in supporting our customers in this energy transition", says Nicolas Leblond, Managing Director of TotalEnergies in Luxembourg.
Antoine Tournand, Vice President Hydrogen at TotalEnergies Marketing & Services: "This new station in Bettembourg is a central link in the network of more than 100 hydrogen stations for heavy goods vehicles that we want to build together with Air Liquide on major European roads, and which will contribute to the decarbonisation of freight transport in Europe"."
"H2Benelux, initiated and coordinated by WaterstofNet, is a project of vital importance, linking the three Benelux member states by installing 8 hydrogen refuelling stations at the most strategic locations. Hydrogen-powered vehicles can now be refuelled in any Benelux country. It is an honour to congratulate TotalEnergies and the Luxembourg government on this first hydrogen refuelling station", said Adwin Martens, WaterstofNet's Strategy Director.
"It is a great pleasure today to welcome the commissioning of the first hydrogen station for road transport as part of the 'H2BENELUX' project. This is the fourth hydrogen station (in the project) to be commissioned with the support of the European Interconnection Mechanism (EIM), and more than 150 others are in the pipeline. The development of low-carbon mobility in Europe is imperative for everyone. By supporting this project, the European Union is contributing to the emergence of a hydrogen fuelling network at both national and European level. As such, it fully contributes to the objectives of the Green Pact for Europe, as well as those of the recently adopted Regulation on the deployment of alternative fuel infrastructures", said Christian Faure, Head of Unit at the European Agency for Climate, Infrastructure and the Environment.
The station was built with support from the H2Benelux, coordinated by WaterstofNet, and part of the Interconnection Facility for Europe programme (implemented by CINEA).
[1] The "H2 Benelux" project aims to create eight hydrogen refuelling stations in the three countries, including one in Luxembourg. A consortium of eight companies, including TotalEnergies, has been established as part of the project. TotalEnergies has undertaken to set up the hydrogen refuelling station in Luxembourg.
Press release from the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works / Ministry of Energy and Spatial Planning / Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development