From Hype to Shutdown: Europe’s Hydrogen Refueling Network Shrinks - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica details the significant contraction of Europe’s public hydrogen refueling network, highlighting Austria and Germany as key examples. Austria’s OMV, which operated all four of the country’s public hydrogen stations, announced closures by September 2025, effectively ending public access to hydrogen refueling in Austria. Meanwhile, Germany, once a leader in hydrogen infrastructure with nearly 100 stations, is closing 22 stations in 2025 due to low demand and poor economics. These closures primarily affect smaller stations in cities with minimal usage, reflecting a shift away from hydrogen cars, which remain rare and mostly limited to fleets or demonstration projects. The decline in hydrogen refueling infrastructure is attributed to a mismatch between early optimistic forecasts and actual market adoption. Despite substantial government and industry investment, the number of fuel cell vehicles remains low, making it financially unsustainable to maintain many stations. Fixed costs such as equipment maintenance and safety inspections persist regardless of usage, leading operators to consolidate the network around fewer, larger stations