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In a recent stock exchange notification, Proton Motor has announced the successful delivery and completion of its follow-on order from “DB Bahnbau Gruppe GmbH”, a subsidiary of “Deutsche Bahn AG”, the operator of the German Rail network. The company from the Munich Metropolitan region has delivered to the customer a complete hydrogen fuel cell emergency power system for installation at a railway control centre in the greater Berlin area (view photo below), which has now passed the site acceptance test, customer handover, and serial and operational approval.

The completion of this follow-on order represents the first fuel cell emergency power system under the customer’s brand name “EnerRail H024” and has a rated power output of 24kW. It follows the co-operation agreement signed between Proton Motor and the customer in 2015, under which 23 systems have already been delivered for various emergency power applications. The systems delivered to the customer include, among other things, the indoor plug and play “HyCabinet S24” fuel cell system, which consists of three fully redundant “HyModule® S8” systems.

Proton Motor CEO Dr. Faiz Nahab said: “The successful completion of this follow-up order from DB Bahnbau Gruppe is further evidence of the company’s progress in commercialising its proprietary hydrogen fuel cell technologies and reaffirms Proton Motor’s leadership in the sector. We look forward to continuing to work further with DB Bahnbau Gruppe to provide them with zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell solutions as Deutsche Bahn look to phase out diesel generators by 2026.”

| New political Position Papers, Manifesto in the run-up to the European elections and current Open Letter to the German government with appeals for the promotion of key technologies “Made in Germany” for decarbonisation to achieve climate targets. |

Climate in court: In mid-May, the Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) has successfully won two lawsuits against the German federal government. The existing climate protection programmes of the current legislature are unlawful and must be improved in the short term with effective concrete measures. The DUH demands that the “pseudo-climate protection policy” stand by its sustainable responsibility for climate protection in order to meet the climate targets by 2030 or 2045. In particular, it requires political will to implement in the decarbonisation sectors of energy, industry and buildings, and transport.

As early as last November 2023, the German hydrogen fuel cell producer Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH analysed the current status of an emissions gap in the stationary market segment in a new Position Paper. Hydrogen fuel cell technology is assessed as an ideal element for the success of the energy transition and transformation of Germany as a business location. Stationary, decentralised and local hydrogen fuel cell applications overcome the investment blockades and guarantee the reduction of 35 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector in the European Union. The CO2-neutral conversion can only succeed with the storage renewable energies using green hydrogen.

The first Position Paper of the industry network Clean Power Net (CPN), which was signed in March 2024 by a total of 32 signatories with 17 CPN industry partners including Proton Motor Fuel Cell as a member, also points to the urgency of accelerating national strategies for the decarbonisation of stationary and critical applications. The release of the CPN publication took place shortly before the February 2024 manifesto of Hydrogen Europe on this year`s European elections, to which the Bavarian high-tech company contributed substantive expertise. In addition, immediately after the Hannover Messe in April, the initiative Clean Energy Partnership e.V. (CEP) has sent – in co-operation with the German Hydrogen Association e.V. – a four-page Open Letter to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the ministries of finance, economics and transport.

At the beginning of May, Manfred Limbrunner (Director Investor Relations and Communication) and Christoph Pauli (Governmental Affairs & Funding) had the pleasure of welcoming five Representatives of the German Bundestag (view group picture): Mr. Dr. Andreas Lenz (CSU), Mr. Florian Ossner (CSU), Mr. Michael Schrodi (SPD), Mr. Andreas Mehltretter (SPD) and Mr. Nils Gruender (FDP). After a small get-together and a presentation on Proton Motor`s future plans with a discussion on market ramp-up scenarios, there was a tour through the new office and manufacturing site in Fuerstenfeldbruck will operating in 2025. After having had an impression of the fuel cell potential in general, the company`s visit continued at the present premises in Puchheim.

The visitors where able to gain a deep insight into the specific heart of the hydrogen fuel cell core technology: The Proton Motor HyStack® and its way into the system products of the Hy-brand portfolio, such as the products HyFrame® and HyModule® as well as the HyShelter® turnkey solution, currently under manufacturing for the European “Green Hysland Project”. In addition to lively discussions on the political dimension of climate protection, the focus of the conversations was on how the hydrogen and fuel cell market in Germany can be accelerated so that further necessary business investments will be made.

Climate targets of the energy industry through stationary and mobile market segments

Back in April, Mr. Dieter Janecek (Buendnis 90/Die Gruenen), Member of the German Bundestag and Federal Government Coordinator for the Maritime Economy and Tourism (photo below), was already welcomed by Proton Motor Fuel Cell. Alongside presenting Proton Motor`s new location in Fuerstenfeldbruck, the focus of the discussion was primarily on how and to what extent hydrogen fuel cells will contribute to the energy transition. Only with fuel cells in stationary and mobile markets, the climate targets of the energy industry can be achieved.

The “Clean Energy Partnership” (CEP) initiative was founded in 2002 by the Federal Ministry of Transport and ten industrial partners at the time. In an Open Letter to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz – published at the Hanover Trade Fair 2024 (link see below) – which was co-signed by Proton Motor Fuel Cell, the urgent appeal for the immediate resumption of reliable funding for hydrogen mobility has now been formulated. According to the CEP, the current policy recklessly and unnecessarily gambles away Germany’s position as the lead market for hydrogen applications and thus enormously weakens the entire business location – far beyond the transport sector.

HyCologne H2 topics from over 50 players for over 15 years

The recent General Meeting of the “HyCologne e.V.” network, which is based in the cathedral city of the Rhineland with a connection to the Ruhr area, also dealt with emission-free mobility, among other things. Because latest company or better “club vehicle” is a new Toyota Mirai in Yves Klein Blue (photo detail_all (c) HyCologne): Only hydrogen comes in, only water comes out – quiet and odourless, a striking eye-catcher for the public!

At the same time, however, HyCologne H2 topics are about production and application, transport and operation, research and funding. That is why the membership structure of more than 50 players, of which Proton Motor Fuel Cell has been a founding member since 2007, is diverse from industry and business.

With today`s #Earthday, more than 500 companies will be showcasing their products for the use of hydrogen in industry and business at this year’s “Hannover Messe”. This makes the trade fair location in Lower Saxony the world’s most important and largest one for the hydrogen economy. From 22 to 26 April, users of the H2 key technology will be able to get a holistic picture of the innovative and competitive capabilities of Proton Motor hydrogen fuel cells at the “Hydrogen + Fuel Cells Europe” industry platform in hall 13 (booth no. E34). The Proton Motor Sales team and experts help to find the right hydrogen fuel cell solution for applications in energy transition projects from concept to operation. On April 24 at 1:45 p.m., Proton Motor Sales Manager Albert Stangl does give a lecture at the “Technical Forum” (hall 13/A30) on the topic “The fuel cell and its potential in stationary applications”.

Clean Power Net: A strong industry voice for climate protection and the energy transition of Germany as a business location

As a long-standing partner of the “Clean Power Net” (CPN) innovation cluster, Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH supports the first CPN Position Paper. The industry network’s four-page document published ahead of Hannover Messe 2024 focuses on the core topics of the “Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action” with the demand for the development of sustainable, decentralised energy supply infrastructures. In addition, national strategies for the decarbonisation of stationary and critical applications are to be accelerated. The current 17 CPN member companies are appealing to political decision-makers to support the market ramp-up of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

Proton Motor Fuel Cell has now been invited to the event “Hydrogen Enterprises in Dialogue” with the German ministries “Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development” (BMZ) and “Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action” (BMWK). This was a perfect platform for exchange between policy makers and industry stakeholders. The presentations provided important impetus and sent a signal that the national and European hydrogen ramp-up can only succeed in close collaboration between industry and politics.

Decarbonisation objectives for the energy transition

Proton Motor also recently participated in a “Hydrogen Round-Table” in London to discuss the possibilities of the energy transition. Bringing together leading producers, innovators and investors from across the hydrogen value chain, the meeting – co-hosted by “Hannam & Partners” and “Celicourt Communications” (view image_(c) Celicourt) – highlighted the invaluable role of these stakeholders in achieving decarbonisation objectives.

“Hydrogen Europe” is the European association representing the interest of the hydrogen industry anand promoting hydrogen as an enabler of a zero-emission society. With more than 500+ members incl. Germany`s hydrogen fuel cell producer Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH, the entire value chain of the European hydrogen and fuel cell ecosystem is encompassed. Hydrogen Europe has published its Manifesto for the 2024 European Elections (6-9 June), highlighting the benefits of hydrogen to Europe’s competitiveness, job creation, and climate goals. The Manifesto (link below) emphasises the benefits of a healthy hydrogen sector – more jobs, global development, and more routes to decarbonisation.

European initiatives make hydrogen attractive | Clean Hydrogen Partnership

According to the study “Fuel Cell Market Size – Share and COVID-19 Impact Analysis”, which spotlights on Proton Motor as a key company in hydrogen fuel technology, the formerly “Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking” (FCH JU; now renamend to “Clean Hydrogen Partnership”) estimated that by 2050, hydrogen fuel would account for arround 24 percent of the total energy consumption.

The European private-public collaborative was responsible for the successful financial management of the “Fit-4-AMandA” project (Fit-4-Automatic Manufacturing and Assembly) from 2017 to 2019. The programme also received funding from the European Union’s research and innovation initiative “HORIZON 2020” as well as from “Hydrogen Europe” and “N.ERGHY”. The so-called “Stack Robot” (see photo), which was symbolically launched in September 2019 by the Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy Hubert Aiwanger (left) and Proton Motor Chairman Helmut Gierse, will form the focal point of Proton Motor Fuel Cell’s new production facility in the Munich metropolitan region. It will therefore continue to be a central element in the technological hydroverse for the future.

For 25 years, the innovative high-tech manufacturer Proton Motor Fuel Cell from the Munich metropolitan region has been working to combat climate change through independent, sustainable energy solutions „Made in Germany“ for decarbonisation on the European continent and in England. Bavarian-British trade relations after Brexit were currently on the agenda at an informal exchange meeting with the Bavarian State Minister for European Affairs and International Affairs, Mr. Eric Beisswenger (see picture below_(c) Bavarian State Chancellery_Press).

At the high-calibre meeting with various companies from the Free State of Bavaria that are active across sectors, the focus was on the future of economic co-operation between Bavaria and Great Britain. Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH was invited as an expert for the hydrogen market segment and illustrated the importance of hydrogen fuel cells in the stationary sector through Mr. Christoph Pauli (Governmental Affairs).

Royals visited Proton Motor power plant in Orkney’s | Sainsbury’s truck runs on Proton Motor’s HyRange® system

The fuel cell specialist, which was founded in 1998, has a long-standing relationship with England. Back in 2017, Proton Motor Fuel Cell completed an emission-free hydrogen fuel cell container power plant “HyShelter®” for the city of Kirkwall on the Orkney Islands, which provides up to 75 kW of electrical and thermal clean energy for ships and port buildings. The heir to the English throne couple learned about the Proton Motor application when they visited the “European Marine Energy Centre” (EMEC) in Orkney’s in the spring of 2021. Three years ago, a “Memorandum of Understanding” was signed with the British company “Electra Commercial Vehicles Limited” for the joint development of the zero-emission fuel cell truck market in the UK and Ireland. As a leading manufacturer of electric trucks, Electra carried out an initial vehicle test for the “Tees Valley” pilot project in 2022.

Teaser caption: The Royal Highnesses, Princess Catherine and Prince William, have been photographed in front of Proton Motor`s containerised HyShelter® fuel cell power plant in Orkney`s in 2021._(c) Courtesy of EMEC_Colin Keldie

Proton Motor Fuel Cell`s listed UK parent company “Proton Motor Power Systems plc”, which issues the green energy share “PPS” on the London Stock Exchange, has published the “Full Year Trading Update” for the financial year ended December 31, 2023. With a total order intake of GBP 2.5 million, the value of hydrogen fuel cell system sales increased by 40 percent to GBP 2 million.

An opening ceremony of the new production facility in Fuerstenfeldbruck (Munich metropolitan region) for the media and other relevant multipliers was held in August 2023. With the product launch of the new emission-free fuel cell system solution “HyModule® S4” – based on the innovative HyStack® development (see picture below) -, Proton Motor is providing an answer to and at the same time a statement for the ongoing market interest in hydrogen technology, especially in the potential of the stationary segment. Decentralised energy solutions for energy security and self-sufficiency are the current main topics of the (industrial) transformation.

Proton Motor Fuel Cell’s fight against climate change for a prosperous future based on zero-emission high-tech innovations is not limited to the four application sectors: Stationary, Maritime, Heavy-duty Mobility and Rail. The hydrogen fuel cell systems of the Proton Motor Hy-brand product portfolio contribute to #CleanSky and #GreenSky.

The Project “GENESIS”, funded by the EU Commission under the “Clean Sky 2” Programme, will gauge the environmental sustainability of electric aircraft in a life-cycle-based, foresight perspective to support the development of a technology roadmap for transitioning. The focus is on regional class, 50 pax aircraft to identify, design and assess prospectively the best energy storage and transmission topology.

Roadmap for sustainability in the aviation industry

From the GENESIS project collaboration of scientists and a group of experts from various fields – including Proton Motor Fuel Cell with Mr. Dr. Nils Baumann (Proton Motor Head of Fuel Cell Engineering) and Mr. Thomas Wannemacher (Proton Motor Funding Projects / Patents) – conventional as well as hybrid-electric aircraft technologies have been evaluated for the years 2030, 2040 and 2050. At the beginning of 2024, the “Journal of Cleaner Production”, which is part of ScienceDirect (a premium platform of peer-reviewed schorlarly literature), published the results of the study.