H2REAL: Large-scale hydrogen laboratory for eastern Austria

A ‘Hydrogen Valley’ is being created in eastern Austria: The H2REAL project is developing new hydrogen technologies and testing possible applications for green gas. Gas Connect Austria is on board as a partner.

The project is funded by the Climate and Energy Fund and is being carried out as part of the ‘Energy Model Region’ programme.

In eastern Austria, a Hydrogen Valley is to be developed as the key to hydrogen technology and applications in the region. To this end, several companies and institutions – including Gas Connect Austria – have launched the H2REAL (‘Hydrogen Region East Austria goes Live’) project. The aim is to create a Hydrogen Valley where new technologies and applications relating to green hydrogen are tested and used commercially along the entire value chain.

Great potential for Green Hydrogen

Hydrogen from renewable energy sources has enormous potential for a green energy future: it can be used to store energy, power transport and decarbonise CO2-intensive industries. At present, the widespread introduction of green hydrogen is still being held back by high overall costs. The creation of Hydrogen Valleys is giving rise to integrated hydrogen networks of companies and institutions. This is creating new regional synergies and driving forward the further development of this green energy source.

H2REAL is designed to run from 2023 to 2026 and is conceived as a cross-cluster initiative: stakeholders from all relevant parts of the hydrogen value chain – production, storage, distribution and consumption – are represented. The project is coordinated by Wien Energie, with 13 other industry partners and five research partners also involved.

Gas Connect Austria's expertise in demand

‘Thanks to our many years of experience as a gas network operator, our expertise is in high demand, particularly in the areas of logistics and infrastructure,’ explains Maximilian Pokorny, hydrogen expert at Gas Connect Austria: ‘We play an important role in the hydrogen value chain and can contribute our expertise in areas such as blending and deblanding.’ This describes the addition of hydrogen to the existing natural gas network and its filtration after transport.

In addition to developing innovative concepts for hydrogen use, the development of new technologies and the construction of demonstration plants are planned. These are also the first building blocks for creating a regional hydrogen economy in the medium and long term. By networking all relevant regional players and exploiting the resulting synergies, the development is to be effectively promoted and accelerated beyond the project period.

Gas Connect Austria as part of a global initiative

The idea of hydrogen valleys originated from an international initiative. Specifically, the European Commission and several nations – including Austria – launched the Clean Hydrogen Mission. Its goal: to establish a global hydrogen economy. To this end, the total cost of the green energy source for end users is to be reduced to 2 dollars per kilogram by 2030. At this price, hydrogen would be competitive with other energy sources. The creation of a total of 100 Hydrogen Valleys is intended to contribute to this goal; 84 are currently under construction or in planning.

H2REAL is part of this global mission. The project is thus making an important contribution to enabling a green energy future in Austria – a goal that Gas Connect Austria wholeheartedly shares.

You can find more information about the implementation plan and an overview of all project partners on the website of the hydrogen initiative WIVA P&G: H2REAL