From Pilot Projects to Hydrogen Imports: HIAA at the NEFI Technology Talk in Linz
How can Austria successfully make the transition from successful pilot projects to large-scale hydrogen imports starting in 2030? This question was the focus of the HIAA keynote at the NEFI Technology Talk, which took place on 23 October 2025 at Tabakfabrik Linz in Linz. Representing HIAA, Dr. Bernhard Pribyl-Kranewitter of VERBUND Green Hydrogen GmbH attended the event and presented the steps that, from HIAA’s perspective, are necessary to successfully implement hydrogen imports to Austria.
The Path to Becoming Europe’s Hydrogen Hub
In his presentation, Dr. Bernhard Pribyl-Kranewitter emphasized the importance of the first existing pilot projects as an essential foundation for planning the further ramp-up of the hydrogen market. The eight HIAA member companies are already working intensively on implementing local hydrogen solutions, which are already providing valuable insights for future large-scale projects. However, it is clear that, in the long term, Austria will depend on large-volume hydrogen imports to meet rising demand, particularly in order to reliably supply and decarbonize hard-to-abate industry with renewable energy.
To achieve its goals, HIAA is pursuing a holistic approach across the entire value chain — from production and transport to storage and industrial application. To ensure a successful ramp-up, clear political and regulatory framework conditions are especially crucial, and initial progress has already been made in this area. If this coordinated development succeeds, Austria can establish itself as an important hydrogen hub in Europe and benefit from significant opportunities for business, employment, and energy security.
Following the presentation, additional representatives from politics and industry — including OMV, LAT Nitrogen, Wien Energie, and Gas Connect Austria — discussed the infrastructure needed to turn this vision into reality. The NEFI Technology Talk demonstrated impressively how the transformation toward a sustainable and efficient hydrogen future can succeed — and the central role HIAA plays in it.