Partners invest 6.6 million euros in liquid hydrogen lab

Construction has begun on a new liquid hydrogen research laboratory at Ennshafen, with the federal government, Upper Austria and research institutions from Styria investing 6.6 million euros, ORF reported. The laboratory is scheduled to begin researching applications for industry, aviation and heavy transport in spring 2027.

Liquid hydrogen is considered by many experts to be an important part of the energy transition. Industry, aviation and heavy transport are expected to need hydrogen in the future if fossil fuels are to be replaced.

The laboratory will work with liquid hydrogen stored at minus 253 degrees Celsius. Researchers will test materials and technical systems, including valves for aviation, said Gisele Amancio of the Hydrogen Research Center Austria.

The project will also examine how materials behave when exposed to liquid hydrogen. Horst Bischof, rector of Graz University of Technology, said he expected the centre to attract companies that want to conduct research there and strengthen Austria’s hydrogen expertise.

According to Karin Tausz of the Austrian Research Promotion Agency, the greatest opportunities for hydrogen currently lie in heavy mobility, shipping and industrial applications. Aviation and space travel could also become future fields of use.

Tausz said there was currently little potential for hydrogen in individual mobility because of high production costs and the limited availability of green hydrogen. In the automotive industry, however, the technology is assessed somewhat differently. BMW is currently developing a hydrogen fuel-cell system at its plant in Steyr.

Upper Austria is participating in the new laboratory through its own research organisation. Governor Thomas Stelzer said hydrogen was important for the economy and industry because it could help Europe meet its climate targets while preserving jobs and providing energy independent of gas.

Upper Austria’s economic affairs councillor, Markus Achleitner, pointed to industry’s high energy needs. Renewable sources, he said, produce energy for no more than about 2,000 to 2,200 hours a year, while a Voest requires 1,000-degree heat throughout all 8,760 hours of the year.

The federal government is providing the largest share of the 6.6 million euros. The liquid hydrogen research centre at Ennshafen is due to open in spring 2027.