Final Report of the Trans4ReaL Collaborative Project Published
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Between Ambition and Implementation: Final Report of the Trans4ReaL Collaborative Project Published
Munich, May 2026 – After five years of intensive research and knowledge transfer, the Trans4ReaL collaborative project has released its final report. The project analyzes the living labs of the energy transition with a particular focus on the ramp-up of hydrogen and demonstrates how practical experience can be systematically leveraged for the further development of markets and regulatory frameworks.
Trans4ReaL was carried out jointly by the Research Center for Energy Economics (FfE), Agora Energiewende, DECHEMA e.V., ZBT GmbH, Ruhr University Bochum, the Foundation for Environmental Energy Law, and the Technical University of Munich (TUM). At the Chair of Environmental and Climate Policy at the Munich School of Politics and Public Policy (HfP) at TUM, Ana Maria Isidoro Losada led the scientific research and analysis. The project team also included Layla Eberle, Dörte Ohlhorst, and Miranda Schreurs.
The final report makes it clear that the ramp-up of a hydrogen economy continues to be associated with considerable uncertainties. In particular, economic viability, regulatory frameworks, and infrastructure expansion represent key challenges. At the same time, the living labs examined show that these challenges can be brought to light through practical testing and that concrete solutions can be developed.
A key finding of the project is the importance of living labs as platforms for learning and knowledge transfer. They make it possible to test technological innovations under real-world conditions while simultaneously addressing institutional, organizational, and societal issues at an early stage. The report identifies key success factors for transferring knowledge from living labs to the market and regulatory frameworks, and highlights areas where further adjustments are needed. The results were first presented at the 2nd Congress of Hydrogen Real-World Labs on May 12, 2026, organized by dena on behalf of the BMWE. The full-day event focused on the key findings gathered in recent years both in the real-world labs of the energy transition and by the partners of the Trans4ReaL research consortium. These include, in particular, experiences regarding the successful market ramp-up of hydrogen, existing challenges, and concrete approaches for addressing them in practice and through regulation. The event brought together representatives from academia, politics, industry, and living labs practice to discuss the findings and deliberate on next steps for a successful hydrogen market ramp-up.
The final report is now available and is intended for decision-makers in politics, business, and research who are actively shaping the development of a sustainable hydrogen economy.
Trans4ReaL Final Report, May 2026