With IPCEI , the European Union has developed a special regulatory framework to strengthen strategically important European value chains. This is intended to enable the promotion of transnational cooperation and the mapping of the value chain from applied research, development and innovation to initial industrial implementation as well as key infrastructure projects in the areas of environment, energy, transport, health or digitalisation through state aid.

Following approval by the European Commission, the supported projects for the IPCEI Hy2Tech were presented in July 2022, three of them from Austria. The focus of this IPCEI is on the promotion of innovative projects along the entire value chain - from the development and upscaling of new efficient electrolysis processes and fuel cell systems to innovative storage and transport technologies and the use of hydrogen in industry and hard-to-electrify areas in the mobility sector.

From Austria:

• AVL List (1 MW high-temperature electrolyser based on metal-supported cells, MSCs)
• Plastic Omnium New Energies Wels (development of a hydrogen fuel cell system for heavy commercial vehicle applications as a product ready for series production as well as the necessary production processes)
• Bosch (development of injection equipment for the use of alternative fuels such as hydrogen and methanol in large engines)

Approval for the "second hydrogen IPCEI" followed in September 2022. In this IPCEI "Hy2Use", the focus is on the decarbonisation of industry. Two of the 29 companies are from Austria: LAT Nitrogen and Verbund are developing green hydrogen-based production of fertilisers, melamine and technical nitrogen products in Austria. To this end, a 60 MW electrolysis plant will also be built in Linz, which can also provide grid services for the electricity grid.

Austria's participation will be financed by the European Recovery Fund - Next Generation EU.
A total of 125 million euros is available for Austrian participation via the European Recovery and Resilience Facility.

Link: https://www.bmk.gv.at/themen/innovation/internationales/ipcei/aktive_teilnahmen/h2.html

In February 2024, a third hydrogen IPCEI was approved by the European Commission. IPCEI "Hy2Infra" will cover a large part of the hydrogen value chain. The plan is to use 3.2 GW of large-scale electrolysers to produce renewable hydrogen and to build new and reused hydrogen transport and distribution pipelines with a length of approx. 2,700 km. The development of large hydrogen storage facilities with a capacity of at least 370 GWh and the construction of transshipment terminals and the associated port infrastructure for liquid organic hydrogen carriers ("LOHC") are also planned in order to transship 6,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year.Austrian companies are not currently involved in this project.

Link: Press release

You can find more information on IPCEI hydrogen at ipcei-hydrogen.eu.

The Climate and Energy Fund is implementing a programme for flagship regions in the energy sector on behalf of the BMK. the Climate and Energy Fund is investing 120 million euros in the development of cutting-edge technologies that will strengthen Austria's future viability and competitiveness.

One of the three showcase regions is entirely dedicated to the topic of hydrogen: the energy showcase region Hydrogen Initiative Showcase Region Austria Power & Gas (WIVA P&G) is pursuing the goal of demonstrating the transition of the Austrian economy to a strongly hydrogen-based energy system. The specially founded research association WIVA P&G coordinates and realises the showcase region with an Austria-wide and thus supra-regional and internationally visible structure.

Detailed project overviews and information can be found on the programme pages.

Link: https://www.vorzeigeregion-energie.at/ or www.wiva.at

A Hydrogen Valley is a geographical area in which climate-neutral hydrogen is produced and used locally by households, local transport and industrial plants. The aim is to develop the hydrogen economy at a local level and serve as a model for other areas. Three Hydrogen Valleys are to be established in Austria over the next few years.

Details about the valleys can be found here: https://www.hypa.at/news/gastbeitrag-hydrogen-valleys-in-oesterreich

inGRID is based on a digital map of the Austrian gas grid, which is divided into suitability zones for the injection of renewable gases. In addition, information is available on the regionally available biomethane potentials as well as potentials for renewable electricity generation and all feed-in points for renewable gases into the existing gas grid. In this way, inGRID provides those who produce, plan and operate the grid with a basis for plant planning and the identification of suitable locations and feed-in points for hydrogen production.

More information can be found in the AGGM guest article.

Link to the map