BRIDGE-H2: Bridging the Hydrogen Refuelling Gap for Early Fleet Deployment

The challenge

Hydrogen mobility faces a persistent chicken-and-egg problem: fleet operators hesitate to purchase hydrogen vehicles without reliable refuelling infrastructure, while conventional HRSs are difficult to justify for one or a few vehicles because of their cost and low initial utilisation. Beyond this primary economic impasse, first-mover operators encounter critical technical and operational hurdles. Sizing infrastructure for an emerging market involves a delicate balance, carrying the constant risk of either undersizing or investing in stranded, over-capacity assets that remain underutilised. This investment uncertainty is further compounded by seasonal or highly variable fleet demand, which must be accommodated within strict, limited refuelling windows to maintain vehicle duty cycles. Finally, navigating stringent safety standards, complex permitting requirements, and operational reliability constraints presents significant barriers that prevent fleet operators and investors from deploying early-stage hydrogen mobility solutions.

Scope

The BRIDGE-H2 project aims to develop a vendor-neutral replication design for safe, modular and scalable HRS solutions serving first-mover coaches and other captive heavy-duty fleets. It will translate fleet duty cycles, hydrogen demand, refuelling windows, site constraints and supply availability into suitable combinations of hydrogen delivery or onsite production, storage, compression, dispensing and safety systems. Outputs will include indicative sizing, CAPEX and OPEX ranges, safety and permitting pre-screening, reliability strategies and staged expansion pathways. The project builds on SOLMAR’s activities in on-going hydrogen and renewable energy valley projects and will transform the site-specific experience into a transferable methodology to be applied in different contexts and fleet sizes.

BRIDGE-H₂ is seeking one additional SME partner, preferably a heavy-duty fleet operator that already operates or is preparing to introduce its first hydrogen vehicles as part of a fleet-decarbonisation strategy. The partner would provide a complementary operational context, contribute fleet and refuelling requirements, and support the assessment of the BRIDGE-H2 transferability and practical value. We also welcome engagement from bus, coach, logistics, municipal, airport and port operators interested in contributing as prospective users or replication cases, particularly where limited refuelling availability currently constrains hydrogen-vehicle deployment.