By 2030, Austria aims to have 1 GW of electrolysis capacity in the country to produce hydrogen, corresponding to 4 TWh of green hydrogen annually, under the country's newly announced Hydrogen Strategy which it says will support national goal of climate neutrality by 2040.
Vienna said it wants to produce hydrogen using renewable electricity and will promote such production facilities with €40 million annually through the Renewable Energy Expansion Act.
Calling green hydrogen the 'champagne' of energy transition, Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler explained that her government plans to use it 'as specifically as possible and use it where it is absolutely needed'.
The government doesn't want to use green hydrogen for heating and transport purposes for instance, but will deploy it for suitable sectors that are difficult to decarbonize, namely steel, chemical industries, air traffic, shipping, and the like.
"It (green hydrogen) is valuable and versatile – but not infinite. So we're going to make the best use of it," said Gewessler. "We will produce green hydrogen ourselves, we will use it primarily in industry and we will create the necessary infrastructure. In this way we can replace Russian natural gas, strengthen our independence and protect the climate."
Under preparation over the last few months by a team put together by the Ministry of Climate Protection and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the strategy offers a framework and direction for the country to switch to green hydrogen.
The government stressed that funding and legal measures can be devised basis this and it will also act as a point of reference for all companies.
Detailed Hydrogen Strategy for Austria is available on the Energy Ministry's website.
Austria has a goal to achieve 100% renewable energy capacity in its electricity mix by 2030 with the help of sources as wind, solar, hydro, biomass and biogas. At the end of 2021, its total renewable energy capacity was 22 GW with solar PV contributing 2.69 GW and the lion's share of 14.5 GW coming from hydropower, as per the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
The European Commission (EC) has set a target for the European Union (EU) to produce 10 million tons (MT) of renewable hydrogen for domestic use and another 10 MT for imports by 2030, all of which will promote additional renewable energy capacities of 80 GW, something that has also been included in REPowerEU plan (see EU Announces 600 GW AC Solar Target By 2030).