German Bundestag Passes Hydrogen Acceleration Act – LOHC Facilities Confirmed as Projects of Overriding Public Interest

The German Bundestag has taken a significant legislative step to accelerate the deployment of hydrogen infrastructure nationwide. On Thursday 26. February 2026, members of parliament adopted the Hydrogen Acceleration Act (Wasserstoffbeschleunigungsgesetz), following final amendments by the Committee on Economic Affairs and Energy.

For Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies, this legislation is an important milestone. LOHC-based hydrogenation and dehydrogenation facilities are now explicitly recognized as falling within the scope of the Act and are legally classified as projects of overriding public interest until 2045.

The Act explicitly distinguishes liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) as hydrogen carrier media rather than hydrogen derivatives. This ensures proper classification in regulatory processes and confirms full eligibility for accelerated procedures.

Hydrogenation and dehydrogenation plants will benefit from shorter approval timelines, simpler environmental assessments, digitized administrative processes, and streamlined procurement and legal review pathways.

Designation as projects of overriding public interest grants LOHC infrastructure regulatory priority and strengthens the foundation for faster, more predictable project realization. Furthermore, it emphasizes the strategic importance of LOHC technology in enabling safe, scalable, long-distance hydrogen logistics and provides stability for investors and developers.

Following its adoption in the Bundestag, only the formal steps of the Bundesrat and publication remain before the Act takes effect. Implementation is expected shortly, enabling the accelerated deployment of key hydrogen infrastructure projects.

More Information on the adoption of the Hydrogen Acceleration Act (German): Deutscher Bundestag – Bundestag beschließt das Wasserstoff-Beschleunigungsgesetz