Press release, 25 April, 2023

“Bavarian-Austrian Hydrogen Forum” on 20 April in Vienna: More than 100 participants discussed and networked

VIENNA – More than 100 participants from Austria and Bavaria accepted the invitation to the “Bavarian-Austrian Hydrogen Forum”, which took place in Vienna on 20 April through the initiative of the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy. The event was organised by the Bavarian Representative Office in Austria (German Chamber of Commerce in Austria) and the Hydrogen Center Bavaria (H2.B).

The dialog and networking between the representatives of Austria and Bavaria from politics, business and science focused in particular on opportunities and challenges in hydrogen ramp-up as well as points of contact for cooperation between Austria and Bavaria.

Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy and Deputy Bavarian Prime Minister Hubert Aiwanger opened the high-level event in the packed hall of the Raiffeisen Forum in Vienna and emphasized the importance of cross-border cooperation for the development of the European hydrogen network. Aiwanger: “For the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy, we need not only regional start-up networks but also a European hydrogen network as soon as possible. The rapid realization of a hydrogen pipeline infrastructure, predominantly through the rededication of natural gas pipelines, is therefore imperative. Austria and Bavaria play essential roles here. We are pioneers in the field of hydrogen technologies.”

H2.B Board of Directors Prof. Peter Wasserscheid highlighted, “It is important for Austrian and Bavarian stakeholders to get into action. There are promising technologies that can contribute to achieving the CO2 reduction targets. Ultimately, the most sustainable and cost-effective technologies will prevail. It is important that competition is further promoted and that politics supports the transformation energy of economy and society.”

On the panel, Aiwanger and Wasserscheid discussed with Eva Landrichtinger, Secretary General of the Austrian Ministry of Labor and Economy, and Dr. Alexander Trattner, Managing Director and Scientific Director of the Austrian H2 Research Center HyCentA, the question of how Bavarian and Austrian cooperation on hydrogen can be further expanded and intensified. Company and ministry representatives from Bavaria and Austria gave insights into strategic planning and practical examples in their presentations in the panels on “H2 generation and infrastructure” and “H2 use in industry and logistics”. H2.B Managing Director Dr. Fabian Pfaffenberger moderated the day and the final discussion.

For the participants from Bavaria, the day ended with a company tour of the H2 test center of Hoerbiger Holding AG. Hoerbiger is one of the technology and innovation leaders in valve and control technology for compressors and provided insights into its hydrogen compression technologies during the company tour.