Working at innovative technologies
Working for a future with secure, sustainable and affordable energy supplies – while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency – comprises one of the biggest challenges facing the world today. As Austria’s largest energy storage company, we began focusing on approaches aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions and the sustainable transformation of the energy system some years ago.
In cooperation with various research and industry partners, RAG has initiated pioneering research projects and develops leading edge energy technologies related to green gas like hydrogen.
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Underground Sun Storage 2030
In the project „Underground Sun Storage 2030“ (USS 2030), the safe, seasonal and large-scale storage of renewable energy in the form of hydrogen in underground gas reservoirs is being developed.
In this worldwide unique demonstration project, solar energy is converted into green hydrogen by water electrolysis and stored in pure form in a depleted, underground natural gas reservoir.
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EUH2STARS
EUH2STARS is a European reference project for underground hydrogen storage (UHS) in depleted porous natural gas reservoirs at technology readiness level (TRL) 8 by the end of the decade.
The project consortium, comprising of gas storage system operators, technology providers, utility, and research organisations, is supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership after successfully applying for the Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON) for Large-Scale Demonstration of Underground Hydrogen Storage.
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Carbon - Cycle Economy Demonstration
The project investigates how to establish a sustainable and closed carbon cycle and thus make CO2 usable as a raw material and storable as methane.
Various CO2 capture and utilization technologies will be combined in the C-CED. For example, CO2 is to be extracted on a pilot scale from various sources such as the air, exhaust gases from the steel industry or biogas and subsequently made storable by converting it into valuable, renewable methane (methanation).
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Methane Electrolysis
With the climate technology „methane electrolysis“, natural gas (methane/CH4) can be split without carbon dioxide emissions, decarbonized and thus made usable in a climate-friendly way. In this way, carbon dioxide-free hydrogen and high-purity carbon can be produced.
The process has great potential and is being implemented for the first time in Austria at the Krift site in Kremsmünster.
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RAG Energy Valley in Krift, near Kremsmünster
The „RAG Energy Valley” is a flagship region for year-round climate-neutral energy supply and the use of natural gas without CO2 emissions.
This will be made possible by finely-tuned coordination of generation, conversion, storage and use of green energy and key raw materials. Summer solar energy will be made storable by converting it into hydrogen, for use in winter to provide electricity and heat. This means that a carbon-neutral energy hub is taking shape in Upper Austria.
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H2 cross border
The H2 „cross border“ project aims to accelerate the market ramp-up of green hydrogen in Central Europe. Renewable electricity and hydrogen production is to be increased, storage volumes in Austria and Germany expanded and adaptations made in the gas transport to Central Europe. This will make it possible to make a significant contribution to reducing emissions by using hydrogen instead of fossil fuels in production processes.
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H2EU+Store
In order to accelerate and ramp up the production of green hydrogen for Europe and to enable a hydrogen economy along the entire value chain, RAG Austria and Eco-Optima have founded an international industry partnership together with further European partners. „H2EU+Store“ will on the one hand create the necessary capacities for renewable electricity and hydrogen production in Ukraine and on the other hand expand storage volumes in Austria, accompanied by adaptations in the area of gas transport to Central Europe.
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SeasonalStorage4EG
In this research project, the added value of seasonal storage for energy communities will be presented through intensive exchange with energy communities – such as that of the municipality of Gampern – and other stakeholders. In addition, the current legal framework and associated regulatory barriers will be highlighted.
As a result, recommendations for adapting regulation to facilitate the integration of seasonal energy storage into energy communities will be derived from the data collected in the project. This should set the course for supporting energy communities in their important pioneering role in the energy transition.