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HI2 Valley
The HI2 Valley (Hydrogen Industry Inland Valley) is Europe's first hydrogen valley focused on industrial applications. HI2 Valley is a large-scale, green hydrogen collaboration encompassing 17 projects across the Austrian regions of Carinthia, Styria and Upper Austria.
The HI2 Valley-project has a time frame of 6 years and a budget of € 588 million – € 20 millions of which are granted in EU funding volume. Around 50 Austrian and international partners have joined the HI2 Valley, and the projects aim to establish a yearly production and usage of more than 10,000 tons of green hydrogen.
Utilization paths of hydrogen
The hydrogen will find a diverse range of uses – among them fueling buses. But the HI2 Valley has a special focus on carbon-intensive industry, such as steel, chemicals and cement.
In total, the HI2 Valley-collaboration is projected to bring a reduction of 201,282 tons of CO2-equivalents by 2030. The comprehensive project plans to achieve national and European climate targets, energy independence, and a transition to clean energy. The HI2 Valley will create about 1,000 jobs and contribute significantly to the decarbonization of energy-intensive industries.
As one of the largest energy storage operators in Europe, RAG Austria is a pioneer in hydrogen production, storage and utilization and thus part of the HI2 Valley. Within the project, RAG plans to implement electrolysis capacities along the H2 Startnetz and an underground hydrogen storage facility.
A crucial hydrogen hub
HI2 Valley also aims to support Europe’s energy future by strengthening energy independence and empowering European collaboration. It is positioned to act as a crucial hydrogen hub between Southern- and Eastern Europe. From here it will be able to integrate into a developing Central European network of sustainable energy.
The HI2 Valley will also carry out technical studies in Romania, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Latvia to determine how the project might be replicated in future hydrogen-valley projects.
And the HI2 Valley will undertake projects in training and skill development in Austria, including summer schools, classes for students, webinars and specialised training courses.
The HI2 Valley is co-funded by the European Union and supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and its members.
