Application possibilities

Hydrogen is already being used as an indispensable chemical feedstock in industry (e.g. for fertiliser production). A total of 132,000 tonnes per year - or around 4.4 TWh at an energy density of 33 kWh/kg - are already being used, but this is currently produced almost exclusively from fossil sources. Converting this fossil-produced hydrogen to renewably produced hydrogen can leverage great decarbonisation potential.

In order to increase the use of climate-neutral hydrogen in energy-intensive industry, it should be possible to replace 80 % of the consumption of fossil-produced hydrogen in energy-intensive industry (energy and non-energy use) with climate-neutral hydrogen by 2030.

Climate-neutral hydrogen is a high-quality energy carrier that offers broad technical application potential on the one hand, but is limited in availability on the other. In order to ensure that the use of climate-neutral hydrogen is economically viable and energy-efficient, it should be focussed.

The contribution of climate-neutral hydrogen or its derivatives should be prioritised primarily in those sectors that are particularly difficult to decarbonise and do not allow for alternative decarbonisation paths - for example through electrification. These are primarily material and energy applications in energy-intensive industry and in special areas of mobility that are difficult to electrify (shipping, aviation, some lorries and buses as well as special applications).

In energy- and emission-intensive industrial sectors - such as steel production - process-related greenhouse gas emissions can be significantly reduced by switching to hydrogen-based manufacturing processes.

In a renewable energy system, hydrogen can play an important role as a linking element between the electricity sector and the future fossil-free gas sector through power-to-gas technologies. Power-to-gas technologies make it possible to produce renewable hydrogen from renewable electricity, which enables long-term and thus also seasonal energy storage and the decarbonisation of non-electrified applications.

Hydrogen can also represent an important, sustainable option for a secure energy supply for Austria in the future. It can help to ensure a move away from fossil gas and thus reduce dependence on fossil energy imports. The use of hydrogen in applications for which more efficient and effective, and therefore often cheaper, decarbonisation options exist is not being pursued.

Source: Hydrogen Strategy for Austria