Press release | Vienna/Gampern, 01. July 2025
NATURKRAFT, a subsidiary of ENERGIEALLIANZ Austria (EAA), is now supplying the hydrogen production of RAG Austria AG in Gampern, Upper Austria. From June 2025 until the end of 2026, the hydrogen plant will be supplied with three gigawatt hours of green electricity from 100 percent Austrian renewable sources every year. Through this cooperation with RAG Austria, ENERGIEALLIANZ Austria is strengthening its commitment to green hydrogen as a central component of the Austrian energy transition. Markus Mitteregger, CEO of RAG Austria, emphasises: “We are making summer electricity durable. This essential service enables the supply of green energy in winter. We offer the solution for the year-round renewable energy system and thus also support domestic value creation.” With hydrogen, the energy supply in winter can also be guaranteed during fluctuations - for example during winter doldrums or when rivers are at low water.
Pioneering work with a model character
In the cross-sector demonstration plant in Rubensdorf, 100 percent green electricity from Austria is converted into CO2-neutral hydrogen by means of electrolysis. The hydrogen obtained by splitting water by using green electricity is stored in the "Underground Sun Storage" as part of the European follow-up project "EUH2STARS" in Gampern/Upper Austria. The facility has been in operation since April 2023 and is the world's first 100 percent hydrogen storage facility in an underground pore storage facility. With a storage volume of 4.2 GWh, the facility corresponds to the summer electricity surplus of around 1,000 photovoltaic systems on single-family homes.
"I am delighted that we are part of this innovative and forward-looking project. By supplying RAG's electrolysis plant in Rubensdorf with green electricity from our subsidiary Naturkraft, we are enabling the production of green hydrogen and making an important contribution to the energy transition," says Thomas Torda, Managing Director of ENERGIEALLIANZ Austria, about the pilot project.
Value creation remains in Austria
A particular focus is on quality assurance in hydrogen production. In close cooperation with E-Control, the experts at RAG Austria and NATURKRAFT standardized the process for converting electricity certificates of origin into hydrogen certificates of origin. This creates the basis for a standardized verification process for the production of green hydrogen. It also ensures that the strict European standards are met and that the green hydrogen is produced in compliance with the RFNBO.
RAG Austria and EAA are also pursuing the goal of keeping the added value of the storage technology in Austria and reducing the import of expensive technologies. The cooperation forms the basis for further industrial applications and is intended to convince political decision-makers of the necessary regulatory framework conditions. With the increased focus on green hydrogen, the companies are not only making a significant contribution to CO₂ reduction, but are also strengthening Austria's energy independence. The combination of regional production, innovative infrastructure and energy industry expertise positions the companies as pioneers in the energy transition. Torda concludes: "Supplying the RAG plant with 100 percent green electricity from Austria is an ambitious, industry-driven showcase project for the development of market-ready hydrogen storage and an important technology for transforming the energy market."
About ENERGIEALLIANZ Austria:
ENERGIEALLIANZ Austria (EAA) supplies around 2.8 million customer installations in Austria and abroad with electricity and natural gas through its regional sales companies in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland as well as the green electricity supplier "NATURKRAFT" and the discount brand "Switch". The focus of sales support for business customers ranges from small and medium-sized enterprises to supra-regional business customers and large-scale industry. As market leader, EAA is strong wherever individual support and personal advice are required in addition to the supply of energy. Innovative products combined with a responsible pricing policy strengthen our customer relationships and secure Austria as a business location.
About RAG Austria AG:
RAG Austria is the largest energy storage company in Austria and one of the leading technical storage operators in Europe. The company's main focus is the storage, conversion and demand-orientated conditioning of energy in the form of gaseous energy carriers. With its energy innovations and energy storage systems, RAG Austria is living the vision of "sustainable energy mining". As a partner of renewable energies, the company develops innovative and forward-looking energy technologies centred around green gas such as hydrogen. In this way, RAG Austria is making an indispensable contribution to achieving Austria's ambitious climate targets and ensuring a sustainable supply of raw materials and energy. The aim is to provide our customers with safe, efficient, environmentally friendly and affordable energy and gas storage services in a long-term and responsible manner.
Enquiry note:
EAA-EnergieAllianz Austria GmbH
Peter Koller
Press Office & Communication
Tel: +43/1/904 10-13510
E-Mail: peter.koller@energieallianz.at
RAG Austria AG
Stefan Pestl
Press Spokesman/Corporate Communications
Tel: +43 (0)50 724-5460
E-Mail: stefan.pestl@rag-austria.at
