Kelag Builds Production Plant for Green Hydrogen in Local Transport

With the “DeCarB” project, Kärnten is taking an important step towards climate-friendly mobility: Kelag is building an electrolysis plant on the KRV site in Arnoldstein, which will supply hydrogen for public bus transport from 2026. The plant will use exclusively renewable energy and will supply a fleet of 36 hydrogen buses in the Villach area in future. This joint project between the state of Kärnten, Postbus, Gutmann, Verkehrsverbund and Kelag is making a key contribution to the decarbonization of the transport sector.

“With an annual production of around 140 tons of green hydrogen from two production lines, Kelag is creating the basis for the use of hydrogen-powered buses with a daily range of up to 500 kilometers. Alongside electromobility, this initiative represents another important milestone on the road to climate-friendly public transport. For the construction of the electrolysis plant, the existing industrial site at the KRV site in Arnoldstein will also be used sustainably and will benefit from the transport infrastructure. Kelag is investing 16 million euros in the project. In addition to the experience gained in mobility, we also expect the project to provide insights for industrial applications,” explains Kelag CEO Danny Güthlein.

“We attach great importance to safety and a reliable, redundant supply through two systems with storage capacity to ensure the continuous operation of the buses. With this initiative, Kelag is sending a strong signal for the future of energy - through innovation and responsibility for future generations,” explains Reinhard Draxler, CEO of Kelag. “Through the participation of Kärntner Entsorgungsvermittlungs GmbH in KRV in Arnoldstein, Kelag has a long-standing partnership with the five regional waste management associations. The start of construction of the hydrogen plant opens a new chapter for local public transport in Carinthia. The plant also forms the basis for considerations to decarbonize the natural gas network in the future.”

Mayor Günther Albel, Managing Director of KÄRNTNER Entsorgungsvermittlungs GMBH (KEV) and Mayor of Villach: “At the KRV site in Arnoldstein, not only is waste incinerated under the strictest conditions, but electricity and district heating are also produced. Hydrogen is becoming increasingly important in industry and energy generation. The expansion now underway to include the production of green hydrogen is an economically sensible step. There is no better way to use the Arnoldstein site! The plant is also a prime example of inter-municipal cooperation.”

In addition to the production of hydrogen, the aim is also to use the waste heat generated for the district heating network and to integrate the oxygen produced during electrolysis into the waste incineration plant once series production has been successfully completed.