The HI2 Valley project aims to build a comprehensive renewable hydrogen economy in Austria’s industrial heartlands of Upper Austria, Styria, and Carinthia. By integrating green hydrogen across key sectors—particularly steel, chemical, and cement industries, as well as energy and mobility—the project will significantly reduce emissions and cut reliance on fossil fuels, especially natural gas imports. By 2028, regional demand is projected to reach 13,000 tons of green hydrogen annually, with HI2 Valley set to produce over 10,000 tons per year. This effort directly supports the objectives of the European Green Deal, REPowerEU, and the EU Hydrogen Strategy, while enhancing Austria’s energy resilience and industrial competitiveness.
Strategically distributed hydrogen production facilities will create a robust domestic market and strengthen Austria’s role in the emerging European hydrogen network. Embedded in the European Hydrogen Backbone, the TEN-T network, and future PCI pipeline connections to Southern Europe and North Africa, HI2 Valley will bridge the gap between southern and eastern hydrogen corridors. As a central hub, it will connect Austria’s multi-user hydrogen ecosystem with neighboring countries such as Germany, Italy, and Slovakia, fostering a truly integrated Central European hydrogen market. Beyond its regional impact, HI2 Valley will collaborate with five emerging Hydrogen Valleys in Eastern Europe—Poland, Romania, Hungary, Latvia, and the Czech Republic—promoting knowledge exchange and accelerating the adoption of green hydrogen across Europe.
