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MEGGLE Group focuses on hydrogen

An important step towards a low-emission future is the energy partnership of MEGGLE, bayernets GmbH, Bayerngas GmbH, RAG Austria AG and Shell Energy Deutschland GmbH. The declared goal of the joint project “H2 cross border” is to establish a hydrogen supply chain via Austria to Bavaria and thus create the conditions for the further path into the hydrogen future and to demonstrate the necessary adaptations at legal and operational level.

More and more companies, especially in the energy-intensive sector, are gradually switching to the flexible energy carrier hydrogen. This will drastically reduce CO2 emissions and reduce dependence on imports. It is now essential to establish a high-performance hydrogen supply chain and drive forward the hydrogen ramp-up throughout Europe. International, cross-sector energy partnerships such as the “H2 cross border” project between RAG Austria, bayernets, Bayerngas, MEGGLE and Shell Energy Deutschland are making an important contribution to this. The CEO of the MEGGLE Group GmbH Matthias Oettel emphasizes the relevance of the project and presents it in the corporate context: “For MEGGLE, hydrogen is an essential part for a future-oriented and sustainable energy supply. As a globally orientated company, we are promoting the use of hydrogen via the cross-border project. For MEGGLE, this energy partnership represents a first and important step towards an emissions-reduced and emission-free future.”

Markus Mitteregger, CEO of RAG Austria AG, also points out the special importance of the energy partnership and notes: “What counts now is speed and expertise. The aim of the project is to demonstrate the first cross-border use of hydrogen so that sufficient green energy is available over the year for electricity, heat, industry and mobiloty.” Dr Matthias Jenn, Managing Director of bayernets GmbH, adds: “The “H2 cross border” project shows how hydrogen production and consumption can be connected. In this way, we want to make a significant contribution to the ramp-up of the hydrogen business in Bavaria.”

On the way to the hydrogen future

RAG Austria AG in Pilsbach (Upper Austria) has been producing hydrogen since 2015 as part of its research into seasonal energy storage, now also certified as green hydrogen by TÜV Süd. In a further step, RAG Austria has successfully registered its hydrogen production plant in the Austrian biomethane register and in the guarantee of origin database. This means that, for the first time in Austria, proof of the produced hydrogen quantities will be provided. The German project partners bayernets, Bayerngas and Shell are working on making logistics and transport hydrogen-ready, as well as implementing the distribution of hydrogen and the documentation of proof of hydrogen quantities and qualities in a corresponding database in Germany. For the first time, green hydrogen will be supplied across borders from Austria to Bavaria. Hydrogen will be delivered from the producer RAG to the customer MEGGLE and used in its production process, thereby reducing emissions.

Since mid-2021, the project partners have been examining the legal framework and technical requirements for cross-border hydrogen transport in order to identify existing (including regulatory) challenges, overcome them by proposing concrete solutions and thus make the supply chain from production to the end consumer a reality.

Project steps:

  1. Production and storage of green hydrogen using the water electrolysis plant in Pilsbach (Lehen)
  2. Utilisation of the existing TÜV SÜD CMS70 certification
  3. Plant registration in the Austrian biomethane register and guarantee of origin database
  4. Injection into the grid as part of an admixture with natural gas in compliance with the gas quality requirements specified by the grid operator
  5. Transport from Austria to Bavaria
  6. Delivery to the customer
  7. Issuing guarantees of origin for green hydrogen via the guarantee of origin database in Austria
  8. Cross-border transfer of guarantees of origin from Austria to Germany*

* Cross-border transfer of guarantees of origin is currently not possible, as the systems currently available in Germany and Austria are not compatible yet.

The “H2 cross border” project and its project partners have the goal to accelerate the market ramp-up of green hydrogen in Central Europe. Renewable electricity and hydrogen production is to be increased, storage volumes in Austria and Germany expanded and adaptations made in the gas transport to Central Europe. This will make it possible to make a significant contribution to reducing emissions by using hydrogen instead of fossil fuels in production processes.

Photography: © RAG Austria AG / Karin Lohberger Photography