How can hydrogen and other renewable energy sources be used in a value chain? In the 2024/25 school year, 16 groups from 15 Bavarian schools tackled this question as part of the H2@School competition. On Monday, July 28, 2025, the best teams were awarded prizes at OTH Regensburg.
First place went to Rhön-Gymnasium Bad Neustadt a. d. Saale (prize money 800 euros), followed by Comenius-Gymnasium Deggendorf (600 euros) and Gymnasium Ernestinum Coburg (400 euros). Fourth place went to Gymnasium Berchtesgaden (200 euros).
Participation prizes went to the BOS Kelheim, the Theodor-Heuss-Gymnasium Nördlingen, the Gymnasium München Moosach, the Martin-Behaim-Gymnasium Nürnberg, the Dientzenhofer-Gymnasium Bamberg and the Technikerschule Allgäu Kempten.
OTH Regensburg and the Ministry drive forward the energy transition
The H2@School competition was initiated by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs and is organized by the State Agency for Energy and Climate Protection (LENK) on behalf of the ministry. OTH Regensburg, represented by the Research Center for Energy Networks and Energy Storage (FENES), was responsible for the technical support and the design of the tasks.
State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt, Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, emphasized at the award ceremony: "Bavaria is taking decisive action on the subject of hydrogen. We are focusing on progress, innovation and infrastructure. From initial pilot projects and a dedicated funding program for electrolysers to a Bavaria-wide hydrogen pipeline network. But one thing is clear: technology alone is not enough. It needs people, young talent. With our school competition H2@School, we not only want to get young people excited about hydrogen, but also actively involve them. Because if you want to shape the future, you have to take responsibility. The projects that have emerged here clearly show how much creativity, energy and bright minds there are in our schools. This is encouraging, because the energy transition is not just a political task, but a shared one."
Prof. Dr. Christoph Skornia, Vice President of OTH Regensburg for IT Security, Digitalization, Sustainability and Social Responsibility as well as STEM Promotion, emphasized the role of the university in the transformation of the energy system: "OTH Regensburg has been conducting research in the field of renewable energies for many years. With facilities such as FENES and the Regensburg Center of Energy and Resources (RCER), as well as through the work of our excellent minds, we have provided significant impetus. Several million euros in funding are available for research in current projects alone. Young people who take part in the competition today will be able to work on concrete solutions at our university tomorrow - for a sustainable, energy-efficient future."
The jury, consisting of Dr. Ulrich Buchhauser, Managing Director of LENK, Prof. Dr. Michael Sterner, expert for energy storage and energy systems, and Dr. Fabian Queck, Managing Director of MINT-Labs Regensburg e.V., personally congratulated all the winning students at the award ceremony and praised the young people's commitment in their laudatory speeches. As a representative of the city, Regensburg's environmental mayor Ludwig Artinger was delighted with the students' commitment.
The projects submitted were as diverse as they were creative and ranged from classic presentations with infographics to podcasts and videos.
From theory to practice: experiencing hydrogen
The competition consisted of two phases. In the first phase, 16 groups from 15 Bavarian schools worked on theoretical tasks relating to climate change, the energy transition and hydrogen value chains. The ten best teams qualified for the second phase and received test boxes with which they could carry out practical experiments - including electrolysis, photovoltaics and fuel cell applications.
After the award ceremony, a poster exhibition provided an insight into the participants' projects. At the same time, laboratories from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at OTH Regensburg opened their doors. Pupils were able to get to know the H2 engine in the Hydrogen Technologies for Transport (H2T2) laboratory and the iron redox storage system, among other things.
The competition continues
H2@School will continue in the 2025/26 school year - under the motto: “Hydrogen - the key to an independent energy future”. The focus will be on questions relating to energy imports, energy production in Germany and energy security in the event of crises. Bavarian pupils from year 8 onwards can take part.
