Project overview
Objectives, scope, and technical context.
HY.Kiel, the first publicly accessible hydrogen refueling station in Schleswig-Holstein’s capital city, is now operational.
Initiated by GP JOULE, the project includes a 2 MW electrolysis system that produces up to 180 metric tons of green hydrogen annually. The hydrogen is used directly on-site for the emission-free refueling of buses, trucks, and cars at 350 and 700 bar.
HY.Kiel is designed as a scalable hydrogen ecosystem and serves as a key building block for the regional mobility transition.
The engineered solution
Technical, operational, and infrastructural.
A stationary hydrogen buffer storage vessel serves as the central link between the electrolysis system and the refueling station. The solution buffers the hydrogen as needed and keeps the hydrogen dispensers continuously supplied. Design and integration were tailored to strict reliability and safety standards along with the operational demands of a public refueling station.
The challenge
Technical and regulatory core requirements.
The challenge was to ensure the safe, efficient, and continuously available storage of green hydrogen from production through refueling. The project required the highest standards of safety, pressure stability, long-term availability, and regulatory compliance while maintaining operational flexibility – even during peak loads and fluctuating renewable energy production.
VAKO’s contribution
Engineering and fabrication – all from VAKO.
VAKO was responsible for the development, design, and fabrication of the hydrogen buffer storage vessel. The vessel was specifically designed for stationary hydrogen applications and enables flexible buffer storage of the produced hydrogen.
The buffer storage vessel meets all relevant technical and regulatory requirements. Leveraging our engineering and manufacturing expertise, we ensured the seamless integration of the storage vessel into the overall system – guaranteeing reliability, efficiency, and long-term viability.
Results and added value
Reliable performance and long-term benefits.
HY.Kiel provides functioning, scalable hydrogen infrastructure that demonstrates how green mobility can be implemented in practice. The VAKO storage vessel makes a significant contribution to the system’s operational reliability, flexibility, and long-term stability. The project strengthens regional value creation, reduces CO₂ emissions, and serves as a blueprint for future hydrogen projects in Germany.
