Mabanaft plans hydrogen refuelling station for trucks in Lübeck

Hamburg | 27 March 2025

Energy company Mabanaft is undertaking a project to develop a hydrogen refuelling station for heavy goods vehicles in Lübeck. This marks a significant step towards establishing a reliable hydrogen economy in the mobility sector. The hydrogen refuelling station, designed by Hypion GmbH, will have a capacity of up to 2,000 kilograms of hydrogen per day. It will be integrated into the network of Mabanaft's subsidiary Staack Pooltankstellen and is expected to be operational by the end of 2025.

The planned site for the hydrogen refuelling station is close to the junction of the A1 and A20 motorways, where Mabanaft already operates a diesel refuelling station. The new facility will cater specifically to the needs of heavy goods vehicles and will be capable of supplying up to 50 trucks per day. Applications for construction have already been submitted, with construction scheduled to commence in the second half of the year. The project has received a grant of EUR 5.1 million under the German government's "Climate-friendly Commercial Vehicles and Infrastructure" (KsNI) programme for 2022. The initiative aims is to further develop the market for hydrogen and fuel cell technology, particularly for light and heavy commercial vehicles.

Mabanaft supports a multi-fuel approach with investment in hydrogen refuelling infrastructure

‘We are convinced of the multi-fuel approach – the idea that different fuel solutions can accelerate the energy transition. Our goal is to provide customers with tailored energy solutions to support their path to decarbonisation. Our planned hydrogen refuelling station in Lübeck is a further commitment to this vision,’ explains Volker Ebeling, Senior Vice President New Energy, Supply & Infrastructure at Mabanaft.

‘Hydrogen has significant potential for heavy goods mobility, particularly for long-haul journeys. Refuelling times and payload capacities are comparable to those of diesel-powered vehicles, with a range of up to 800 kilometres per tank,’ emphasises Florian Lückmann, Head of Commercial Road Transport at Mabanaft. He continues: ‘We also aim to unlock hydrogen’s potential through a reliable and comprehensive hydrogen refuelling station network. To this end, we are planning the gradual development of a transnational hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.’

The EU's Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) mandates the construction of hydrogen refuelling stations for trucks and cars every 200 km along the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and at all urban hubs by 2030. With the hydrogen refuelling station in Lübeck, Mabanaft is contributing to the planned network. The company is particularly focused on developing hydrogen refuelling stations tailored to the performance and accessibility needs of heavy goods vehicles. Through its Swedish subsidiary PS Energi, Mabanaft has already built two hydrogen refuelling stations in Sweden and secured funding for three additional sites.

Mabanaft develops project with Hypion

Hypion, a project developer based in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, specialising in the hydrogen economy, prepared the project for investment readiness. Mabanaft has now become the sole investor in the Lübeck site and will continue to implement the project in collaboration with Hypion. Subject to regulatory approvals, construction could commence in the summer. A knowledgeable and experienced regional partner is essential for such a project," says Volker Ebeling of Mabanaft. ‘In project developer Hypion, we have found a partner who shares our values, and our vision of an energy transition tailored to our customers.’

Now is the time to accelerate progress in the transport sector and harness hydrogen as an energy carrier to support economic decarbonisation. The challenges remain significant, but with a forward-thinking and committed partner like Mabanaft, we can achieve this goal,' adds Dr Stefan Rehm, Managing Director of Hypion.

Planned operation of the hydrogen refuelling within the tankpool24 network

The hydrogen refuelling station will be operated by Staack Pooltankstellen within the tankpool24 network. Tankpool24 is a market leader and specialist in the planning, construction and operation of 24/7 truck refuelling stations. Its network comprises over 2,000 stations across Europe, including more than 750 in Germany. The Mabanaft Group is the largest shareholder in the tankpool24 group.

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The Mabanaft Group is a leading independent and integrated energy company providing its customers with tailored energy solutions for their transportation, heating, industrial and agricultural needs. The group is active in import, distribution and marketing of petroleum products, natural gas liquids, chemicals and biofuels, and supports its customers’ transition to cleaner fuels by providing alternative long-term solutions.

As a project developer, Hypion is involved in the development of integrated green hydrogen economies to provide cleaner energy for mobility, industry, buildings and the electricity market. As a specialist in the Green Hydrogen Economy, Hypion's core expertise lies in the development, planning, implementation and operation of economically viable user solutions.