voestalpine and VERBUND Expand H2FUTURE Hydrogen Pilot Plant

voestalpine and VERBUND are further expanding H2FUTURE, one of the world's longest-running PEM electrolysis plants, in Linz. The expansion covers the production, compression, purification, storage, loading and reuse of green hydrogen. To this end, the plant at the voestalpine site, which was commissioned in 2019 as the world's largest hydrogen pilot project at the time, will be expanded to include a compression and purification plant and five hydrogen storage tanks. The cost of expanding the research project amounts to EUR 16.4 million.

The H2FUTURE plant, which has been in operation since 2019, is one of the world's longest-running PEM electrolysis plants. It consists of 12 stacks, each with 50 electrolysis cells, and has a connected load of six megawatts. The plant is used in particular to compensate for frequency fluctuations in the power grid caused by the irregular availability of renewable energies or varying power requirements. Preparatory measures for the plant expansion have been underway for two years, and the equipment is currently being installed. Functional tests will begin in January 2026, with initial research results expected at the end of 2026. The project will end in December 2029.

voestalpine is already focusing on follow-up research projects: "With greentec steel, we are pursuing a clear step-by-step plan for transformation. We are already working intensively on the first stage and will commission one green electricity-powered electric arc furnace each at our Linz and Donawitz sites from 2027 onwards and shut down two coal-based blast furnace units. In the long term, we are aiming for steel production with net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Hydrogen will play an important role in this. Together with our partner VERBUND, we will gain further important insights with H2FUTURE follow-up", says Herbert Eibensteiner, CEO of voestalpine AG.