The extended research project, titled H2FUTURE Follow-up, will broaden the plant’s scope to include hydrogen compression, purification, storage, loading, and further utilisation. The total investment amounts to EUR 16.4 million.
Commissioned in 2019 as the world’s largest hydrogen pilot project at the time, the H2FUTURE plant features 12 stacks of 50 electrolysis cells each and a connected load of 6 MW. It is capable of producing 1,200 cubic metres of green hydrogen per hour and has already generated several hundred tonnes of hydrogen during its operation. The facility has undergone extensive testing, including a stress test that confirmed its ability to operate continuously under variable load conditions and stabilise electricity grid fluctuations caused by intermittent renewable energy sources.
As part of the current expansion, five hydrogen storage tanks are being installed, along with systems for compression and purification. These enhancements will enable the storage of up to one tonne of hydrogen, allowing production to be decoupled from immediate demand. Installation is currently under way, with functional testing set to begin in January 2026. The first research results are expected by the end of that year, and the project is scheduled to conclude in December 2029.
“With greentec steel, we are pursuing a clear phased plan for transformation,” said Herbert Eibensteiner, CEO of voestalpine AG. “We are already working intensively on the first stage and will be commissioning a green electricity-powered electric arc furnace at both Linz and Donawitz from 2027. At the same time, two coal-based blast furnace units will be retired. In the long run, we are aiming for steel production with net-zero-CO2-emissions by 2050. Hydrogen will play an important role here. Together with our partner VERBUND, we will gain further crucial insights through H2FUTURE Follow-up.”
Michael Strugl, CEO of VERBUND, added: “Within the scope of H2F-Up, VERBUND is focusing on the production, compression, and purification of hydrogen under fluctuating conditions. With a storage capacity of one ton of hydrogen, we are able to compensate for fluctuations in production and therefore ensure a constant supply for our customers. H2FUTURE set standards in 2019 as the world’s largest hydrogen pilot project, and I am delighted that we can continue our successful cooperation with voestalpine and the H2FUTURE Follow-up project.”
