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Implementation report on the hydrogen strategy for Austria
With the publication of the Hydrogen Strategy 2022, the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) has defined the development of a hydrogen infrastructure as a central prerequisite for the ramp-up of a renewable hydrogen economy in Austria.
Every two years, the BMK and the BMAW submit an evaluation report on the implementation of the strategy to the Austrian parliament.
The integrated grid infrastructure plan (ÖNIP), published in April 2024, focuses on the ‘hydrogen starter grid’ from 2030, which is to be realised by converting the natural gas infrastructure.
In addition, the BMK is working on a regulatory framework to secure the financing of the hydrogen infrastructure. One challenge is the high initial investment, which could lead to high network charges for a small number of users, while the amortisation risk could deter network operators. The analysis by Prognos and FINGREEN examines financing options, evaluates them and develops a model to map the financial flows.
Since the publication of the Hydrogen Strategy 2022, a number of measures have been successfully launched.
- Electrolysis capacity in growth: The expansion of electrolysis capacity to 18.2 MW to date is a first step towards the goal of achieving a capacity of 1 GW by 2030. Projects such as H2FUTURE in Linz and DEMO4GRID in Völs are setting standards in the production of renewable hydrogen.
- Advancing the infrastructure: The integrated Austrian grid infrastructure plan (ÖNIP) has created a sound basis for converting existing natural gas infrastructures into hydrogen grids. The planned development of the hydrogen start-up network by 2030 and international integration, for example through the hydrogen southern corridor from North Africa to Austria, are particularly welcome developments.
- Research and innovation: The doubling of investment in hydrogen research in 2023 to 61.5 million euros shows that Austria wants to be a technological leader. This strengthens the country's competitiveness and supports the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy.
In our view, it is particularly important to emphasise that the topic of hydrogen is no longer seen as a distant dream of the future but is now at the centre of the energy transition and its plans.
Despite these positive developments, there are also challenges and potential for improvement that we would like to point out here:
- Infrastructure - the need for clear timetables: the rededication of gas infrastructure and the development of high-performance hydrogen networks is central to giving hydrogen producers and hydrogen consumers certainty that transport capacity for hydrogen will be available in time. The report remains vague with regard to specific timetables.The infrastructure plans of the transmission system operators and the AGGM's H2-Roadmap 2.0 show how the further development of the gas infrastructure can be realised!
- Clearer financing security: Many ambitious projects and programmes are anchored in the report, but the long-term financing of these projects remains uncertain. We see a risk here that projects could come to a standstill if funding, particularly from the EU, does not flow as planned. A secure financing structure for the transport infrastructure, which is not designed for a rigid core network but takes into account the demand-orientated development of the H2-network, would facilitate implementation.
- Market integration and regulatory framework: The development of a suitable regulatory framework for the market integration of hydrogen has not yet been finalised. This leads to uncertainty among market participants. A faster creation of clear regulations, especially with regard to certification and grid fees, is crucial to facilitate market participation. Rapid implementation of the EU gas package (legislative package: ‘Decarbonised gases and hydrogen’) is therefore essential.
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©2026 AGGM Austrian Gas Grid Management AG
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