A new plan to repurpose parts of Austria’s natural gas pipeline for hydrogen integration has been put in motion. This project is being led by the country’s electricity and gas network operator.

It has been stated that the plan for the project is for them to make it possible to operate the dual-strand pipeline in Upper Austria as a dual-use pipeline at some future point. This would enable the pipeline to continue to transport natural gas within one pipe, whilst simultaneously transporting hydrogen inside the other. Completing this project has the potential to bring about multiple benefits, as the hydrogen pipeline would have a diameter of 40cm and it would also be able to transport a maximum of fifty cubic meters of hydrogen every hour. This figure would be dependant on the pressure, however, fifty cubic meters would equal an estimated 170MW, which is the capacity of Linz’s district heating power plant.

The progress which has been made so far involves Energie AG advancing the development and on top of this, the company has also commissioned Netz Oberösterreich. The role Netz Oberösterreich will play, will be to repurpose the section of pipeline which is based between Linz and Sattledt. The Energie AG-owned company is responsible for operating a network which currently spans 6,000km and now, they will soon be submitting the first blending section for approval

In order for this project to commence, the dual-use system will need an amendment to the operating permit and  then this will need to be reviewed and approved by the regional government. Further to this, the legal framework surrounding the project’s economic feasibility has already been created.

Throughout its operations the pipeline will be utilised for green hydrogen, which means it could be sourced from domestic producers, an additional benefit to the project.

Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of Energie, Alexander Kirchner, commented, “Green hydrogen is a key component of Energie AG’s vision for a renewable energy future. Existing natural gas pipelines can be adapted for hydrogen transport. By repurposing the pipeline between Linz and Sattledt, we are taking a major first step, enabling Upper Austria to become one of the first regions in Austria to be supplied with hydrogen.”