Ludwig-Boelkow-Systemtechnik GmbH

Their core work

LBST is a German private consultancy specializing in hydrogen systems analysis, energy modeling, and techno-economic assessment of hydrogen infrastructure. They provide independent technical expertise on hydrogen refuelling systems, compression technologies, and underground hydrogen storage — bridging the gap between engineering feasibility and market deployment. Their work spans the full hydrogen value chain from electrolysis and grid balancing through compression and dispensing to end-use in heavy-duty transport, making them a go-to analytical partner for hydrogen demonstration and scale-up projects across Europe.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

LBST's early H2020 work (2015–2017) centred on hydrogen production and grid integration — electrolysis, balancing, and basic refuelling system development. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward heavy-duty hydrogen mobility, advanced compression technologies (metal hydride and hybrid compressors), and standardising refuelling protocols at multiple pressure levels. Their most recent project (HyStorIES, 2021) signals a new direction into large-scale underground hydrogen storage, suggesting they are expanding from point-of-use infrastructure into bulk energy storage systems.

LBST is moving from hydrogen dispensing and mobility toward large-scale hydrogen storage and infrastructure planning — positioning themselves for the hydrogen backbone buildout expected in Europe through the 2030s.

How they like to work

LBST primarily operates as a specialist participant (5 of 6 projects), contributing analytical and systems-engineering expertise to consortia led by others. They coordinated one project (PRHYDE), demonstrating they can lead when the topic aligns tightly with their core competence in refuelling protocols. With 52 unique partners across 20 countries, they maintain a broad European network rather than working repeatedly with a small circle — making them an accessible and well-connected partner for new consortia.

LBST has collaborated with 52 distinct partners across 20 countries, indicating a wide and diverse European network built through hydrogen-focused projects. Their partnerships span research institutes, industrial gas companies, and vehicle manufacturers across Western and Northern Europe.

What sets them apart

LBST occupies a rare niche as an independent hydrogen systems consultancy — not a university, not a gas company, not a vehicle OEM — giving them credibility as a neutral technical analyst across the hydrogen value chain. Their combination of energy modelling, compression engineering, and refuelling protocol expertise is hard to find in a single organisation. For consortium builders, LBST brings analytical rigour and cross-cutting hydrogen knowledge without competing commercially with industrial partners.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PRHYDE
  LBST's only coordinated project — developed standardised refuelling protocols for heavy-duty hydrogen vehicles at 35, 50, and 70 MPa, addressing a critical gap for commercial hydrogen trucking.
• COSMHYC XL
  Largest single EC contribution to LBST (EUR 107,775) and focused on scaling hybrid compression to extra-large hydrogen refuelling stations for heavy-duty fleets.
• HyStorIES
  Marks LBST's expansion into underground hydrogen storage — a strategic new direction covering reservoir engineering, geochemistry, and environmental impact assessment.