Hydrogen Region East Austria Goes Live
For green hydrogen to gain traction in regional energy supply and to contribute to global decarbonization efforts, cost reduction is crucial. Cost reduction can only be achieved through the synergetic cooperation in research and development efforts of all players across the hydrogen value chain. With this in mind, so-called Hydrogen Valleys have been conceptualized to essentially cluster several infrastructure, industrial and research initiatives to be able to carry out pilot projects across the complete hydrogen value chain.
H2REAL is developing a Hydrogen Valley in the region of Eastern Austria with the involvement of renewable generation plant operators, electricity grid operators, gas grid operators, hydrogen producers & plant operators, and end-users such as industry and public transport. The aim is to develop concepts and strategies that enable a joint development of hydrogen production capacities as well as a proactive, coordinated infrastructure development with all regional key-players. The concept is based on the deployment and integration of existing and planned projects into clusters across four strategic Provinces in Austria of Vienna, Lower Austria, Styria and Burgenland.
The key objectives of H2REAL are:
- The development of a network including all relevant stakeholders enabling joint investments and coordinated infrastructure projects across several federal states and regions.
- The development, implementation and optimization of innovative hydrogen concepts and novel technical solutions including several technology demonstrators.
- The utilization of synergetic effects across the entire hydrogen value chain that shall boost the establishment of a regional hydrogen economy and shall thus lead to a visible reduction of the regional hydrogen price.
The role of AIT is:
- In-depth modelling and systemic analysis of the Hydrogen Valley to identify optimal production, distribution and application plans.
- Detailed techno-economic assessments of core projects for the establishment of regional hydrogen economy.
- Implementation of a technology demonstrator for the blending of hydrogen in a local gas grid.
Funding tool
This project is funded by the Climate and Energy Fund and is carried out within the program of the "Vorzeigeregion Energie".
