Austria, under the leadership of an international consortium led by energy storage company RAG Austria, has secured 20 million euros in funding from the European Union for the groundbreaking research project EUH2STARS.
The project, centered around the greater Linz area, aims to explore the viability of storing and transporting solar energy converted into “green hydrogen” underground, establishing Upper Austria as a pan-European reference for hydrogen storage solutions.
Markus Achleitner, State Councilor of Upper Austria, emphasized the pivotal role of hydrogen for the future energy supply of the region. Hydrogen is considered a key factor, especially for Upper Austria, recognized as the number one economic and industrial state. The EUH2STARS project, with its substantial funding, positions Upper Austria at the forefront of the green energy revolution.
The primary goal of EUH2STARS is to develop market-ready hydrogen storage systems capable of storing renewable energy generated during the summer months in the form of “green hydrogen.” Building upon the success of RAG Austria’s “Underground Sun Storage” project in Gampern last year, the consortium aims to further research and implement large-scale, seasonal hydrogen storage in depleted natural gas deposits. The project will also explore the feasibility of a new underground storage facility in Sattledt.
The existing gas pipeline network in Austria is deemed generally suitable for transporting hydrogen. Bernhard Painz, CEO of Austrian Gas Grid Management AG (AGGM), highlighted the potential of reallocating existing gas pipelines and constructing additional hydrogen pipelines. This would create a robust core network for hydrogen parallel to the existing methane network, facilitating the widespread adoption of green hydrogen.
Linz, the city at the heart of the EUH2STARS project, sees itself as a lighthouse for large companies in the region. Mayor Klaus Luger views green hydrogen as crucial for achieving decarbonization in municipal district heating and electricity generation, making it suitable for extensive use in Linz’s industry. The project aligns with Linz’s goal of becoming a climate-neutral industrial city by 2040.
Linz AG, in collaboration with the city of Linz, aims to provide 100 percent district heating from renewable energies by 2040. Currently covering 40 percent of the demand with renewable energy, the company achieved 60 percent with the commissioning of a new heat converter. The remaining demand is planned to be covered by green hydrogen, showcasing Linz AG’s commitment to a sustainable energy future.
The EUH2STARS consortium, led by RAG Austria AG, encompasses diverse competencies across the entire value chain of hydrogen storage. From storage technology (RAG Austria AG, Shell Global Solutions International BV/Netherlands, Energie Beheer Nederland BV/Netherlands, Hungarian Gas Storage/Hungary, Trinity Capital SL/Spain), hydrogen processing (Axiom Applied Process Technology GmbH, Axiom Polska Sp.z oo), transport networks (AGGM) to energy suppliers (LINZ AG), and integration of important research institutions (Montanuniversität Leoben, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research/Netherlands, Energy Institute at the Johannes Kepler University Linz), the consortium is poised to revolutionize the landscape of hydrogen storage and usage.
