For decades, this important energy hub has ensured the reliable supply of natural gas to Austrian households and businesses, as well as to neighbouring countries such as Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary. Baumgarten impressively demonstrates its stability and reliability, especially in challenging times. Its strategic location and international network and storage connections make it an indispensable hub that contributes significantly to energy security beyond Austria's borders.
New sources and routes ensure a stable gas supply
Since the loss of gas imports via Slovakia at the end of 2024, natural gas from Northern and Western Europe has increasingly been flowing to Baumgarten via the West Austria Gas Pipeline (WAG). This includes gas from Norway and LNG (liquefied natural gas), which is supplied via the coasts of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. At the same time, gas is sourced from Italy, which comes from a variety of sources such as North Africa, Azerbaijan and also LNG.
These two supply corridors and the Austrian gas storage facilities not only guarantee domestic supplies, but also ensure supplies to neighbouring EU countries in the event of potential supply gaps.
Baumgarten as an important hub in the European gas market
Baumgarten also plays a central role in the Austrian gas market model (entry-exit system) as it acts as a connection hub between Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia, Italy and Hungary. The entry-exit system separates entry and exit so that market participants can feed gas into the network at any point and withdraw it at another point without having to book fixed transport routes. In combination with the entry-exit model, the wide range of connection options at Baumgarten allows gas to be fed into and withdrawn from the Austrian transmission system in a flexible manner, while the function as an important distribution hub for domestic gas supply remains a central component of the strategic importance of this location.
Future prospects for hydrogen
In addition to securing the supply of natural gas, the operators Gas Connect Austria and TAG GmbH are increasingly focusing on the future: In the long term, Baumgarten is to be established as a hydrogen hub and connected to the European H2 network.
To this end, Gas Connect Austria and TAG GmbH are working on national and European projects such as the SoutH2 Corridor, which aims to create an efficient hydrogen infrastructure between Southern and Central Europe. The two companies are also actively involved in various European initiatives and institutions to develop a European hydrogen infrastructure. On a national level, AGGM's H2 Roadmap shows how Baumgarten can act as an important link in a future hydrogen infrastructure. This means that the station will not only remain the backbone of today's gas supply, but also a central hub for the climate-neutral energy future of Austria and Europe.