News from the Regions in Structural Change | April 2023

Maximator Hydrogen

Maximator Hydrogen is looking at turnover of more than EUR 50 million from the sale of 60 hydrogen filling stations. The Nordhausen-based company, founded just five years ago, also reports an order backlog of around EUR 100 million. Filling stations produced by the firm are in great demand among clients as far afield as in the USA, Sweden, Norway, Poland, and France – as well as increasingly in Germany. Swift growth has allowed Maximator Hydrogen to build two production halls and an office building on the Darre site at a cost of around 15 million euros, with a further EUR 10 million invested in development work.

Zwickau companies launch large mobile storage prototype

Companies in Zwickau are giving new life to used batteries from electric vehicles. The lithium-ion based large mobile storage prototype has a capacity of 200 kw hours to 2.5 megawatt hours. Storage units of this type could help store energy from solar cells and wind turbines in the future. The batteries used will come from electric vehicles and be provided by Mercedes Benz Energy in Kamenz. No information was provided on the prototype development cost, but it is expected that a storage facility of this nature could cost between EUR 200,000 and EUR 300,000 subject to capacity. The prototype is currently being optimized before eventual serial production.

NRW start-up develops reusable parcel system

Essen-based start-up Rhinopaq has developed a reusable shipping box for online retailers. The concept is simple: Retailers ship their goods using the reusable boxes which can then be simply folded and returned using any Deutsche Post mailbox. Twelve retailers have already signed up to the start-up’s service, with Rhinopaq now looking to convince supermarkets and other retailers of the ecological and logistical benefits of the boxes that can be used up to 20 times.

Spanish train manufacturer starts production of electric trains in NRW

Spanish train manufacturer CAF will supply Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) with 63 battery-electric regional trains of the Civity BEMU type, which are set to replace the old diesel vehicle stock. The company has acquired the former Gelsenkirchen-Bismarck rail depot from the Ruhr Regional Association in order to build a modern rail workshop. Thirty new jobs will be created during the first expansion phase with further business development possibilities in North Rhine-Westphalia in the future.

LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven starts regular operations

Regular operations have started at the LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven after the official commissioning in December 2022 according to operator Uniper.

Halle announced as Future Center for German Unity winner

The city of Halle on the river Saale has been announced as the future location of the planned Future Center for German Unity and European Transformation. The city won out in a shortlist of five sites in Eastern Germany. The new 200 million euro center will celebrate the achievements of German unification and function as a meeting place and research center. Construction is expected to be completed by 2028.

EUR 10 billion data center investment in Genshagen and Mittenwalde

Vantage Data Centers is investing in the region of EUR 10 billion in what it has called its biggest building site in Europe in Genshagen, Brandenburg.  The company, which develops, builds and operates data centers for clients, operates some of the largest data hubs in the EMEA region. According to reports, the Ludwigsfelde and Mittenwalde campuses currently under construction will attract tenants including Google and Microsoft.