voestalpine and VERBUND are further extending one of the world’s longest-running PEM electrolysis plants, H2FUTURE, in Linz, Austria.
The expansion includes the production, compression, purification, storage, loading, and further use of green hydrogen. To this end, the plant at the voestalpine site – commissioned in 2019 as the world’s largest hydrogen pilot project at the time – will be expanded to include a compression and purification plant, as well as five hydrogen storage tanks. The costs for expanding the research project amount to €16.4 million.
H2FUTURE Follow-up is a joint research project of the international steel and technology group voestalpine and Austria’s largest electricity supply company VERBUND. As an integral part of H2FUTURE Follow-up, the previous research activities on hydrogen production are being systematically continued in terms of quality characteristics of purity and pressure. The hydrogen is stored in the newly constructed storage tanks until it is loaded for transport and further use. Preparations for the plant expansion have been underway for two years; installation of the facilities is now in progress. Functional tests will start in January 2026 and the first research results are expected at the end of 2026. The project ends in December 2029.
voestalpine will be using the green hydrogen in other research projects.