The Technical University of Graz (TU Graz) has inaugurated a new hydrogen test center, marking a significant advancement in energy research.
This megawatt-capacity facility, supported by federal funds, acts as a cornerstone of Austria’s hydrogen strategy, offering a platform for research and development under realistic industrial conditions.
With a 250-square-meter testing field, electrolyzers capable of generating up to 2.5 megawatts, and a direct connection to the campus, TU Graz is taking a bold step toward sustainable energy technologies. The center represents Austria’s first facility of its kind, providing unprecedented opportunities for hydrogen production and testing on an industrial scale.
A dedicated transformer station allows the center to simulate various supply scenarios, producing up to 50 kilograms of green hydrogen per hour at full operation. This hydrogen is stored in a towering 18-meter tank with a 190-kilogram capacity and is distributed via a 315-meter pipeline to several campus institutes. Here, it powers projects aimed at developing new fuel cells, turbines, and industrial high-temperature burners.
The establishment of this research hub, partially funded through a €17 million federal grant for hydrogen research in Styria, is a strategic investment in the region’s future. Of this, €10 million was allocated to TU Graz, with €4.5 million directly boosting the new test center. Additional funds have been invested in new testing facilities for fuel cell stacks and high-temperature burners.
Focusing on long-term testing, the center offers ideal conditions for degradation analysis and reliability tests while assessing the quality of hydrogen against international standards. Alexander Trattner from the Institute for Thermodynamics at TU Graz emphasizes these capabilities, pointing out the integrated research ecosystem’s uniqueness – encompassing generation, storage, and utilization at the campus.
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