There is movement in the hydrogen issue, even if only in the area of production for the time being. The Austrian federal government has submitted a new subsidy law for the production of green hydrogen, with a subsidy amount of 400 million euros, which will be awarded via competitive auctions, for review.
The subsidies are to be processed by the development bank Austria Wirtschaftsservice (AWS). This law is intended to contribute to the implementation of the Austrian hydrogen strategy, which aims to build up electrolysis capacities of 1 gigawatt by 2030, with the aim of promoting "renewable hydrogen of non-biogenic origin". Funding commitments will only be made between 2024 and 2025, with a funding period of ten years and a planned full payout by 2039. In addition, there are opportunities to apply for aid from the European "Hydrogen Bank" as part of the EU Innovation Fund.
If the legal basis for the pipeline transportation of hydrogen is now created - keyword GWG amendment - then the energy transition in the pipeline will really gain momentum.
H2-Roadmap for Austria which has been available for more than a year, is waiting to be implemented. The opportunity to be at the forefront with the realization of the
H2-Collector East and to bring two thirds of the electrolysis capacity targeted in the hydrogen strategy to the ground by 2030 must be seized.
Austria must not lose touch with European developments in the development of the hydrogen backbone in order to continue to play a central role in the European energy network and benefit from it.
