One year after the groundbreaking, Air Products has completed the first construction phase of a new hydrogen refueling station in Meckenheim and commenced operations. The facility primarily serves the refueling of hydrogen buses of Regionalverkehr Köln GmbH (RVK), which, according to its own statements, is expected to grow to 160 vehicles by the end of 2025. This makes RVK the operator of the largest hydrogen bus fleet in Europe.
The refueling station is located in the Kottenforst Business Park. The site was sold by the City of Meckenheim to RVK in 2023 and subsequently leased to Air Products. The company has constructed the facility and also takes over its operation.
The station has a daily refueling capacity of 750 kilograms of hydrogen at 350 bar. Refueling a bus takes about ten minutes. Only certified renewable hydrogen is used.
In addition to supplying buses, the facility is also designed for trucks. After the completion of the second construction phase, private cars will also be able to refuel there. The completion of all work, including landscaping and facade design, is scheduled for early 2026.
In addition to hydrogen supply, at least two double charging stations for battery electric vehicles with a peak power of up to 150 kilowatts each are planned on the site. A photovoltaic system is intended to cover as much of the energy demand of the refueling station as possible.
The new infrastructure is co-financed by the European funding program "Connecting Europe Facility" (CEF).
For RVK, the refueling station is a central component of its strategy for emission-free mobility. Managing Director Marcel Frank explains: "With our steadily growing climate-neutral fleet, we have laid the foundation for forward-looking and sustainable mobility in recent years. Expanding the infrastructure is the next big step in our strategy for the corporate goal of zero emissions by 2030."
The Rhein-Sieg district also sees the refueling station as a contribution to the regional climate strategy. District Director Svenja Udelhoven emphasizes: "The hydrogen refueling station represents a strong step towards climate-neutral mobility in the Rhein-Sieg district. At the same time, we are strengthening the development of a Europe-wide hydrogen network across our region."
