The energy transition is taking shape in a tangible way in the heart of Europe. In Austria, an old gas pipeline is about to start a new life, transforming into one of the first infrastructures dedicated to the transport of green hydrogen on the continent.
Energie AG, the Austrian electricity and gas grid operator, is getting serious about the energy transition. The company has commissioned Netz Upper Austria to start the conversion of the gas pipeline from Linz to Sattledt. This is no small project: the company operates a network that extends over 6.000 kilometers.
An innovative dual-use system
The plan is simple: the dual-pipe gas pipeline in Upper Austria will become a dual-use system. One of the pipelines will continue to transport natural gas, while the other will be dedicated to hydrogen. It is a pragmatic approach that allows for a gradual transition to clean energy, along the lines of the Bar Mar, the “hybrid” gas pipeline set up between Barcelona and Marseille.
The technical specifications are impressive. The hydrogen pipeline, with a diameter of 40 centimeters, will have the capacity to transport up to 50 cubic meters of hydrogen per hour, depending on the pressure. To give you an idea, this capacity corresponds to about 170 MW, equivalent to the entire Linz district heating plant.
Hydrogen pipeline, the bureaucratic aspects
Before the conversion can take place, the project will have to go through some bureaucratic steps. A change to the operating permit will be required, which will have to be reviewed and approved by the regional government. The good news is that the legal framework for the economic viability of the project has already been defined.
Alexander Kirchner, Chief Technical Officer of Energie AG, has clear ideas:
Green hydrogen is a key component of Energie AG's vision for a renewable energy future. Existing gas pipelines can be adapted to transport hydrogen. By converting the pipeline between Linz and Sattledt, we are taking an important first step, enabling Upper Austria to become one of the first regions in the country to be supplied with hydrogen.
A model for the future
As we watch this transformation unfold in the heart of Europe, we cannot help but think that we are witnessing a paradigm shift in the energy sector. Converting existing infrastructure to renewable energy is not only economically sensible, but also a pragmatic approach to the energy transition.
The Austrian pipeline could become a model for many other European countries facing similar challenges on their path to a more sustainable future.