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Austria’s new hydrogen strategy slams use in heating, transport
(EurActiv, 3 Jun 2022) The Austrian government has now joined the club of countries that have presented a hydrogen strategy. Vienna will aim for significant electrolysis capacity, replacing fossil hydrogen by 2030 and stringent usage prioritisation.
Hydrogen strategies tend to lay out a government’s approach to the clean-burning gas and smallest element. The Austrian government’s strategy stands out due to its conservative approach and clear prioritisation in the use of the limited hydrogen amounts available – notably in its rejection of the energy source’s use in heating systems and vehicles.
“Green hydrogen is the champagne of the energy transition. It is valuable and versatile – but not infinite,” said Austria’s climate minister Leonore Gewessler during the presentation of the strategy on 2 June.
“That is why we will make the best possible use of it. Our hydrogen strategy now shows how we can do this,” she added.
To that end, the Austrian government graded possible uses of hydrogen from inefficient to priority. Using hydrogen as a chemical feedstock in steelmaking for example is considered a high priority use.
On the other hand, hydrogen cars, medium-sized heavy-duty trucks and low-temperature heat in homes and industrial processes are considered “inefficient” by the Austrian government.
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EurActiv, 3 Jun 2022: Austria’s new hydrogen strategy slams use in heating, transport
