ITM Power and DB Systemtechnik, the engineering and technology subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn, have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to establish a long-term innovation and research partnership focused on deploying green hydrogen technologies across Germany’s rail network and critical infrastructure.
The agreement expands an existing collaboration between ITM Power and Deutsche Bahn, announced in 2025, and aims to accelerate the use of renewable hydrogen to decarbonise rail transport while improving the resilience of energy systems supporting railway operations.
As the first step in the partnership, the two companies will jointly carry out a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study to evaluate the integration of ITM Power’s electrolyser technology at Deutsche Bahn facilities. The study will examine technical design, site integration, operational requirements and commercial viability for producing green hydrogen directly at railway locations.
The collaboration will explore a wide range of applications for renewable hydrogen, including supplying fuel for hydrogen-powered locomotives, buses and heavy-duty vehicles used within Deutsche Bahn’s transport operations. In addition, the partners will assess how hydrogen production, storage and other green energy solutions could strengthen the energy security and operational resilience of railway infrastructure.
Green hydrogen is increasingly viewed as an important tool for decarbonising transport sectors where battery-electric solutions may not be practical, particularly for heavy-duty applications, long-distance operations and critical infrastructure requiring reliable backup power.
By producing hydrogen through electrolysis using renewable electricity, operators can reduce emissions while creating a flexible energy carrier that can also help balance electricity systems and improve energy independence.
The planned FEED study is expected to provide the technical and commercial foundation for potential future deployment projects, supporting Deutsche Bahn’s broader strategy to reduce emissions across its transport network while increasing the sustainability of its infrastructure.
The partnership also reinforces ITM Power’s position as a supplier of large-scale electrolysis technology for industrial and mobility applications, as demand for green hydrogen continues to grow across Europe’s transport and energy sectors.
