Green hydrogen is playing an increasingly central role in the transformation of energy-intensive sectors. In Austria, too, important steps are currently being taken to make its potential economically and ecologically viable. At the same time, current developments show that, in addition to technical and economic aspects, social issues are also coming more into focus.

A look at international examples illustrates possible challenges: In Germany, the planned construction of a hydrogen production plant caused protests among the population. The debate revolved around the environmental impact, choice of location and opportunities for participation.

At the same time, the expansion of the hydrogen infrastructure in Austria is progressing. A new filling station for green hydrogen was recently put into operation in Vienna. Such investments in supply are essential to facilitate market access for hydrogen-powered vehicles and support the transition in the mobility sector.

EnviCare® is making an active contribution to the further expansion of the hydrogen economy: we are currently carrying out the process engineering planning for a 200 MW electrolysis plant in Burgenland. The aim of the project is the large-scale production of green hydrogen from renewable energies, which is to be used in the areas of mobility, industry and energy supply.

Further project details are available in our reference overview.

From an economic perspective, current analyses show that renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power are now significantly more cost-effective than conventional technologies such as nuclear power. This significantly improves the starting position for the production of green hydrogen – especially with regard to industrial applications where low-emission alternatives are in demand.

A further step in this direction is the planned establishment of a hydrogen cluster in an Austrian industrial region. The aim of this project is to bundle production, research and application along the entire value chain. Such initiatives not only strengthen the business location, but also contribute to achieving the national climate targets.

In this context, EnviCare® is actively involved in the development of appropriate solutions as part of the “Phase out of fossil gas” project in the WEIZplus region. The aim of the project is to replace fossil fuels with technologies such as electrolysis and methanation.

Details can be found in our latest news article.

Overall, it is clear that green hydrogen is no longer just a technological topic of the future, but is now being implemented in practice. In addition to investment and infrastructure, social acceptance and transparent communication will be crucial for successful development.

Further information on the background can be found in four articles in the daily newspaper “Der Standard”, published on January 29, February 9, March 9 and May 15, 2025.