© Wolftank

Construction has begun on the expansion of Bolzano’s SASA hydrogen refueling station, a project that will more than double capacity for the city’s bus fleet and, for the first time, enable cars and heavy-duty vehicles to use the facility.

Regional context and European trend

The €5.1mn contract, awarded earlier this year to Austria’s Wolftank Group, reflects a wider shift in Europe’s hydrogen transport sector as early-generation refuelling hubs are upgraded to accommodate multiple vehicle types rather than remaining segmented between passenger and freight. Germany’s H2 MOBILITY, for instance, is converting car-only sites to truck-capable hubs in response to growing logistics demand.

South Tyrol’s hydrogen hub

Bolzano, the capital of Italy’s South Tyrol region, has operated hydrogen buses since 2013 and is regarded as the country’s most advanced hydrogen transport hub. The current site, commissioned in 2021, was designed primarily for public buses with a single compressor, 450-bar storage and cooling to –20°C.

Details of the expansion

The upgrade will install a new multi-dispenser capable of delivering hydrogen at 350 bar for buses and 700 bar for cars and trucks. Additional infrastructure includes two 500-bar compressors and a 950-bar unit to speed throughput, a cooling system extending to –40°C for high-pressure applications, and a second trailer box to raise onsite hydrogen storage to two tonnes.

“With this expansion, Bolzano will more than double its refuelling capacity for hydrogen buses while opening the station to private cars and heavy-duty vehicles – providing an all-encompassing service,” Wolftank said. Roughly half of the project budget is allocated to the company, which is carrying out similar work in Germany, Austria and Spain.

Policy goals and wider implications

South Tyrol’s regional government has set a 2030 target to decarbonise transport, and expanding the Bolzano hub is seen as central to that ambition. Once complete, the site will be among the few in southern Europe capable of serving light-duty, public and freight vehicles in parallel.

The project underscores the challenges of scaling hydrogen mobility infrastructure across Europe, where networks remain fragmented and limited in capacity. For policymakers, Bolzano offers a case study in how to retrofit existing stations for broader use, potentially lowering the cost of deployment while supporting both municipal and commercial fleets.