VERBUND

VERBUND is Austria’s leading energy company and one of the largest producers of electricity from hydropower in Europe. The Group generates around 95% of its electricity from renewable energy, primarily from hydropower. VERBUND trades electricity in 12 countries and generated around €3.2bn in annual revenue in 2020 with approximately 2,900 employees. With its subsidiaries and partners, VERBUND is active in the generation of electricity, transmission and in international trading and sales. VERBUND has been listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange since 1988 with 51% of the share capital being held by the Republic of Austria.

VERBUND is the key player for the success of the energy transition in Austria. The challenges that have to be met call for a unified focus throughout the entire company, which VERBUND is driving forward with Mission V. Mission V is a long-term and comprehensive transformation program and stands for the will to confront the climate crisis as a force for change. This program is based on the VERBUND Strategy 2030 with its three pillars: Strengthening the integrated home market, expanding renewable energies in Europe and establishing itself as a European hydrogen player. With Mission V, VERBUND is pushing the achievement of the strategic goals 2030 and ensuring their implementation.

Project Goals

VERBUND is in charge of WP 5 (development of hydrogen processing). In cooperation with the project partners Axiom and Vienna University of Technology, this involves the processing and conditioning of hydrogen for use by potential industrial customers. VERBUND is involved in five further work packages, which are mainly concerned with the engineering, construction and operation of the electrolysis plant, with the reliable supply of hydrogen to resource-intensive industries, as well as with the modelling of electricity generation and the modes of operation of the electrolysis. The development of a model for the implementation of seasonal storage in the future energy system deserves special mention.

"With the USS 2030 project, we are generating knowledge on the processing and conditioning of hydrogen from pore storage for use by potential industrial customers. And we are gaining new knowledge about seasonal storage in an energy system that is supplied 100% from renewable sources.", says Robert Paulnsteiner.