Austria
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Austrian Strategy
Wasserstoffstrategie für Österreich (Jun 2022) (In German - Executive Summary in English)
Austrian Roadmaps
A3PS Eco-Mobility 2030 plus Roadmap (October 2018)
Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan for Austria (December 2019)
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Updated November 2024
a. In accordance with the Austrian Renewable Energy Expansion Act (EAG), the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) presented the integrated Austrian grid infrastructure plan (ÖNIP). The ÖNIP is an overarching strategic planning instrument for the rapid expansion and conversion of the energy infrastructure. The hydrogen ramp-up requires high investment costs at the beginning, which can mean potentially high grid fees for users, who are still few at the beginning. Against this backdrop, an analysis on behalf of the BMK sheds light on various financing options for the future hydrogen network. Link to the study: https://www.bmk.gv.at/themen/energie/publikationen/wasserstoffstartnetz.html
b. EAG investment subsidy regulation under review: On 25 June 2024, the draft of the EAG investment subsidy ordinance for hydrogen was submitted for review. The draft determines that installers of electrolysers can receive an investment grant of up to 906 € per kW of installed capacity, but a maximum of 45% to 65% of the eligible costs, depending on the size of the company.
c. The HyPA (Hydrogen Partnership Austria) advisory board published recommendations for the BMK and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Economic Affairs (BMAW) in order to implement the Austrian hydrogen strategy in the best possible way. Twelve recommendations were submitted to the two ministries.
d. Austria joined the International Hydrogen Trade Forum: Austria joined the international hydrogen alliance ‘International Hydrogen Trade Forum’ (IHTF) on 13 May 2024. Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler took part in the IHTF ministerial meeting in Rotterdam.
e. Austrian Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) roadmap published: In the roadmap published by the BMK, the currently recognised SAF production paths and scenarios for future aviation fuel requirements are examined. Link to the roadmap: https://www.bmk.gv.at/themen/verkehr/luftfahrt/publikationen/saf-roadmap.html
f. The Hydrogen Promotion Act (de: WFöG) has passed the plenary session of the National Council. Federal funds totalling up to 820 million € will be available for hydrogen production projects to promote the production of renewable hydrogen.
g. Implementation report on the Austria hydrogen strategy was published: The BMK, in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy (BMAW), has published the first evaluation report on the Austrian hydrogen strategy. This report, part of the monitoring requirements from the strategy presented in June 2022, shows the progress made in implementing the measures of the Austrian hydrogen strategy. Link to the report: https://www.bmk.gv.at/themen/energie/publikationen/umsetzung-wasserstoffstrategie.html
h. AT-DE-IT roundtable on hydrogen infrastructure and the development of a southern import corridor: The last south corridor meeting of the trilateral working group AT, DE, IT took place in Vienna on 6 March 2024. The memorandum of understanding drawn up jointly after this meeting was signed by the three countries on 30 May 2024 at the Council of Ministers in Brussels. The document is intended to formalise cooperation and clarify governance issues. Cooperation with North African partner countries will be strengthened.
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No updates
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Updated November 2024
a. A new electrolyser was put into operation in Vienna-Simmering on the Wiener Netze campus in April 2024. The PEM electrolyser with an electrolysis capacity of 3 MWel was built by Wien Energie and Wiener Netze.
b. The map below shows Austria's electrolysers (in operation = green, under construction/advanced planning = grey), stationary (grid-relevant) hydrogen storage facilities (= orange), publicly accessible hydrogen refuelling stations (= blue) and a possible hydrogen grid (refitted = dark blue, new construction = turquoise) in 2030.
The map is regularly updated, see also: https://www.hypa.at/umsetzung/hypa-map
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Updated November 2024
26. – 28. November 2024 H2 Convention in Linz: At this year's symposium, Linz will once again be the meeting point for around 300 participants from industry, research and administration, representatives of political institutions at federal and EU level, project organisers from European cities and regions as well as internationally active companies and research institutions. In dialogue with international best practices, they will address the challenges and opportunities along the entire value chain.
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Update November 2024
The funding of projects is split in numerous thematic lines, structural programmes and bottom-up funding lines, with most of these programmes encompassing a broader funding area that goes beyond hydrogen. Figure 2 shows Austrian funding programmes for (resp. including) hydrogen and hydrogen technologies, for the year 2024.
6th ‘Emission-free buses and infrastructure’ (EBIN) call for proposals launched: EBIN is a funding programme of the BMK with the aim of increasing the proportion of emission-free buses in public transport.
Second renewable hydrogen auction (European Commission): Austria plans to participate in this auction with a national budget as part of the ‘auction-as-a-service’ programme. Auction-as-a-service enables Member States to provide their own funding for the allocation of subsidies for national hydrogen production projects while making use of the EU auctions.
Hydrogen research is in first place for Austrian energy research expenditure: As a member of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Austria is obliged to keep an annual record of all research, development and demonstration projects in the energy sector carried out in Austria that were subsidised or financed with public funds. Hydrogen research was in 1st place ahead of energy efficiency.
On 19 September 2024 the European Commission approved the new funding guidelines for the ‘Transformation of Industry’ programme of the BMK. This makes it for the first time possible to fund not only investment costs but also the running costs of Austrian industrial companies associated with the decarbonisation of production processes. The ‘Transformation of Industry’ programme has a total of around EUR 3 billion available up to 2030 for transformative projects that contribute to the decarbonisation of Austrian industry.
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Update November 2024
a. A new HyPA factsheet looks at the application of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to hydrogen imports. This European Union mechanism was established to safeguard competition and obliges importers to purchase certificates in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) from 2026. Link to the factsheet: https://www.hypa.at/fileadmin/11_hypa/fact_sheets/hypa-fact-sheet_cbam_2024.pdf
b. The advisory board of Hydrogen Partnership Austria has released a position paper on test and measurement instruments in hydrogen technology. These systems are essential to ensure efficiency and progress in the emerging hydrogen economy. Link to the position paper: https://www.hypa.at/fileadmin/11_hypa/fact_sheets/positionspaper_test-_und_messinstrumente_hypa_final.pdf
c. A new HyPA factsheet analyses the water requirements for the production of hydrogen with electrolysers. https://www.hypa.at/fileadmin/11_hypa/fact_sheets/hypa_fact-sheet_wasserbedarf-elektrolyse.pdf
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N/A
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Austrian Statement (PDF); 40th Steering Committee Meeting; Washington DC, USA, 4-5 October 2023
Austrian Statement (PDF); 33th Steering Committee Meeting; Online; 16-19 June 2020
Austrian Statement (PDF); 26th Steering Committee Meeting; Gwangju, Republic of Korea; 1-4 November 2016
Austrian Statement (PDF 564KB); 24th Steering Committee Meeting; Grenoble, France; 1-3 December 2015
Austrian Statement (PDF 1.14MB); 22nd Steering Committee Meeting; Rome, Italy; 2-3 December 2014
Austrian Statement (PDF 939KB); 21st Steering Committee Meeting; Oslo, Norway; 19-21 May 2014
Austrian Statement (PDF 799KB); 20th Steering Committee Meeting; City of Fukuoka, Japan; 20-21 November 2013
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Contact: Dr. Andreas Dorda | andreas.dorda@bmk.gv.at