Austrian utilities Verbund and Burgenland Energie have joined hands to build the 'largest' electrolyzer project of the country with capacity to produce 40,000 tons of green hydrogen. It will be powered by 300 MW of local wind and solar energy facilities.
According to the plans shared, the facility will be built in phases. By 2026, it is scheduled to produce 9,000 tons of green hydrogen, eventually reaching the targeted 40,000 tons annually by 2030. According to the duo, this will save Austria 400,000 tons of CO2 annually.
Verbund, which is Austria's largest hydro power producer, previously worked with local steel company voestalpine and Siemens to commission Austria's maiden PEM electrolyzer in 2019. It then brings this experience into the space under the partnership. Energy utility Burgenland Energie whose CEO Stephan Sharma is credited as the initiator of the project, stated, "As a green technology company, we are already leaders in electricity production from wind and solar energy in Austria. With this innovation project, we are refining wind and solar power from Burgenland into hydrogen for Austria."
According to Verbund CEO Michael Strugl, by 2040 Austria will have 4 to 5 times the current total demand for green hydrogen as it is set to play a critical role in decarbonization efforts. If the local production isn't enough, it may have to resort to imports.
"Now is the chance to put Austria in a pioneering role. This joint project takes us a big step towards the future of energy," stressed Strugl.
Burgenland aims to become energy self-sufficient by 2030 by when it aims to install 3.2 GW solar PV and 1.2 GW wind energy capacity. Recently, Burgenland broke ground for the country's largest solar PV park with 120 MW capacity, co-located with 44 MW wind energy (see Work Begins For Austria's Largest Solar Park).