Commissioning of Vienna's first green hydrogen production plant
In the photo from left to right: Gerhard Fida (Managing Director Wiener Netze), Peter Hanke (City Councillor), Peter Weinelt (General Director Wiener Stadtwerke), Gudrun Senk (Managing Director Wiener Linien), Karl Gruber (Managing Director Wien Energie)
Hydrogen plays a decisive role in a CO2-neutral energy future. Today, Wien Energie and Wiener Netze are putting Vienna's first green hydrogen production plant into operation. The H2 production plant is the first of its kind and size to produce green hydrogen from green electricity directly in Vienna. It is located on the Wiener Netze campus in Simmering and is operated by Wien Energie. The investment volume amounts to around 10 million euros.
With an output of three megawatts, the electrolysis plant produces up to 1,300 kilograms of green hydrogen (H2) from green electricity every day. This is enough to refuel around 60 buses/trucks. The plant is another milestone in the implementation of the Wiener Stadtwerke Group's hydrogen strategy.
Wien Energie is also putting another H2 filling station for buses and trucks into operation right next to the H2 generation plant. Transport and logistics companies can fill up with green Viennese hydrogen at 350 or 700 bar directly on site or at the second H2 filling station in Vienna-Leopoldau.
"We have big plans in Vienna and are putting them into practice! For us, hydrogen is a topic of the future that we have been focusing on for a long time: We now have two H2 filling stations and are converting an entire bus line to hydrogen propulsion. With the new H2 generation plant, we are now also producing green hydrogen directly in Vienna. We are once again demonstrating that we are continuously implementing climate protection measures with the Wiener Stadtwerke Group and are working hard to achieve climate neutrality," said City Councillor for Finance and Economic Affairs Peter Hanke at the commissioning ceremony.
Green hydrogen produced exclusively with green electricity
Only electricity from renewable sources such as solar, wind and hydroelectric power is used to produce hydrogen in Simmering. Electrolysis is the process used to produce green hydrogen from green electricity. In this process, water (H2O) is broken down into its components: Oxygen and hydrogen. The released oxygen escapes into the air. The hydrogen is compressed directly on site. It can be stored and transported safely under high pressure and in a space-saving manner.
First hydrogen buses by 2025
Wiener Linien has been testing the use of green hydrogen since 2021 and will be converting Austria's first urban bus line to H2 buses next year. The result of the Europe-wide tender was announced in February: from 2025, ten twelve-metre-long, barrier-free buses from Portuguese manufacturer CaetanoBus will be in operation on route 39A.
Other possible uses
In addition to Wiener Linien, a number of private logistics companies are already filling up with green hydrogen at Wien Energie's H2 filling stations, including IKEA Austria.
Industrial partners can also purchase hydrogen from Wien Energie. A separate area for collection with trailers has been set up next to the H2 filling station for this purpose.
Test facility at the Donaustadt power plant
Another possible application has been in operation since last year: together with partners, Wien Energie added hydrogen to natural gas at the Donaustadt power plant as part of an operational trial. The trial was the first of its kind in a power plant of this size in operation anywhere in the world. The potential of this area of application is huge: with 15 percent hydrogen admixture alone, 33,000 tons of CO2 could be saved every year. Preparations are underway to feed hydrogen into the Viennese gas grid.
Photos ©️ Wien Energie/Christian Hofer
