A subsidy scandal involving the Head of the Department for Energy Policy and the hydrogen lobby emerged in the Federal Ministry of Transport. Despite initial allegations of favouritism, disciplinary proceedings were later dropped. Meanwhile, DWV (German Hydrogen Association) President resigned in response to the controversy.

Media investigations (including Der Spiegel and LobbyControl) revealed indications of a close lobby-and-friendship network between civil servants and the hydrogen lobby at the Federal Ministry of Transport. Klaus Bonhoff, Head of the Department for Energy Policy, was suspected of maintaining close ties with DWV (German Hydrogen Association) President Werner Diwald and favouring the association in the distribution of transport and energy-related public funds.

Emails later revealed that Bonhoff forwarded DWV funding requests to subordinates without disclosing his conflicts of interest. In response to public criticism, Transport Minister Volker Wissing dismissed Bonhoff on 15 February 2024 and transferred another official, Adam Mutwil, to a different department. By May 2024, the hydrogen department was effectively dissolved.

In September 2024, an internal audit found indications of duty violations by two employees, leading to disciplinary proceedings. However, further investigations concluded that Bonhoff had not committed any disciplinary violations, and the case was closed in 2025. Bonhoff later stated he was considering legal action against the ministry. Meanwhile, the scandal had reputational consequences for the DWV.

Although no formal misconduct by the association was established, the unusually close coordination with ministry officials led to public criticism, particularly regarding the accelerated approval of approximately 1.5-million-euro HyMobility funding. The latter is a subsidy program for hydrogen transport projects that is justified on climate grounds, despite ongoing debate about whether hydrogen technologies funded under the programme deliver genuine emissions reductions.

As a result, Werner Diwald announced his resignation as DWV President by the end of 2024, and Oliver Weinmann, the association’s Vice-President, temporarily stepped down.