Two projects for hydrogen pipelines in Brussels have been submitted by Gas Connect Austria (GCA), a Verbund subsidiary.
This involves parallel lines of the South-East pipeline (SOL), which will start transporting hydrogen in 2035, the West Austria gas capacity (WAG), and the Penta-West, which will both begin importing hydrogen in 2030.
Both initiatives were filed as PCI to the EU Commission (Projects of common interest). The objective is to link locations with a high demand for hydrogen with regions with a high potential for hydrogen generation. Hydrogen from possible sources in North Africa, Ukraine, Romania, and Croatia might be delivered to industrial districts in Austria and Bavaria via the planned corridors.
When hydrogen (H2) is created using green electricity, it is regarded as a green energy source. It is highly valued by experts for the future of the industry. Hydrogen is frequently referred to as the “champagne of the energy transition” since significant amounts of energy are lost during the process of generation, known as electrolysis.
Energy-intensive businesses in Austria predict their hydrogen demand will be 12 terawatt hours (TWh) by 2030 and 47 TWh by 2040, according to a poll by the gas network operator AGGM. The chemical triangle in nearby Bavaria has a considerable need as well. Austria is a key player in the EU as a transit nation, according to Gas Connect.
