Ground broken on Austrian 12.5MW green hydrogen plant to supply utilities

Engineering group Andritz and gas firm RAG Austria have broken ground on a 12.5MW green hydrogen plant in Gampern, Austria, targeting operation in late 2026.

The facility will produce over 1,500 tonnes-per-year of green hydrogen using solar power for seasonal renewable energy storage to supply Austrian energy companies.

RAG Austria said energy providers EVN, Energie, Kelag, Linz, and Salzburg have “already booked electrolysis capacities,” without revealing contracted volumes.

Andritz, which based on technology from partner HydrogenPro, will provide engineering, procurement, and construction services for all the site’s hydrogen systems, including purification and compression equipment. The partners did not confirm which manufacturer would supply the site’s electrolysers.

The plant will use surplus renewable energy generated during periods of high output converted into hydrogen, stored, and utilised when renewable generation is insufficient to meet demand.

In this model, green hydrogen acts as both a long-duration energy storage medium, helping to balance electricity grids while maximising the utilisation and economics of renewable energy assets.

Markus Mitteregger, CEO of RAG Austria, said it is “essential” that Europe produces its own hydrogen from surplus electricity resources.

“100% renewable electricity in the annual balance doesn’t guarantee a single week of winter,” Mitteregger said. “A resilient energy system must be able to provide supply at all times.”

RAG is also involved in the project in collaboration with engine developer, INNIO Group, a facility expected to hold up to 4.2 GWh of surplus solar power in the form of hydrogen.

Andritz recently supplied 100MW of electrolysers to German steelmaker, Salzgitter, for its direct reduced iron (DRI) project, Salcos.