Apparatus for operating a fuel cell unit, comprising: - an operating medium container, which is configured to store an operating medium kept under high pressure for operating the fuel cell unit, - a fuel cell system, which comprises the fuel cell unit and a fuel cell line, wherein the operating medium container is fluidically coupled to the fuel cell unit by means of a high-pressure line, a supply line and the fuel cell line for guiding the operating medium, and - two transfer units (61, 63; 62, 64, 65), which are in each case fluidically arranged between the operating medium container and the fuel cell unit and are coupled to the high-pressure line, the supply line and/or the fuel cell line and which are embodied such that, when the operating medium passes through the transfer unit (61, 63; 62, 64, 65), state energy of the operating medium can be transferred to a component of the transfer unit (61, 63; 62, 64, 65), wherein the transfer units (61, 63; 62, 64, 65) each comprise a turbine (61, 62) and an output (63, 64) coupled to the turbine (61, 62), such that when the operating medium passes through the turbine (61, 62), state energy of the operating medium can be converted into mechanical and/or electrical energy by means of the turbine (61, 62) and the output (63, 64), wherein the turbine of one transfer unit (61, 63) is fluidically arranged between the high-pressure line and the supply line and the associated output is embodied as a generator, and wherein the turbine of the other transfer unit (62, 64, 65) is fluidically arranged between the supply line and the fuel cell line and the output is embodied as a compressor. - an operating medium container, which is configured to store an operating medium kept under high pressure for operating the fuel cell unit, - a fuel cell system, which comprises the fuel cell unit and a fuel cell line, wherein the operating medium container is fluidically coupled to the fuel cell unit by means of a high-pressure line, a supply line and the fuel cell line for guiding the operating medium, and - two transfer units (61, 63; 62, 64, 65), which are in each case fluidically arranged between the operating medium container and the fuel cell unit and are coupled to the high-pressure line, the supply line and/or the fuel cell line and which are embodied such that, when the operating medium passes through the transfer unit (61, 63; 62, 64, 65), state energy of the operating medium can be transferred to a component of the transfer unit (61, 63; 62, 64, 65), wherein the transfer units (61, 63; 62, 64, 65) each comprise a turbine (61, 62) and an output (63, 64) coupled to the turbine (61, 62), such that when the operating medium passes through the turbine (61, 62), state energy of the operating medium can be converted into mechanical and/or electrical energy by means of the turbine (61, 62) and the output (63, 64), wherein the turbine of one transfer unit (61, 63) is fluidically arranged between the high-pressure line and the supply line and the associated output is embodied as a generator, and wherein the turbine of the other transfer unit (62, 64, 65) is fluidically arranged between the supply line and the fuel cell line and the output is embodied as a compressor.