The state-owned Tyrolean utility Tiwag plans to build a hydrogen center in Kufstein. A total of over 20 million euros to be invested. In 2020, it could be started with the granting of the EU and national funding agencies.
The plant is to be built on a plot of Stadtwerke Kufstein near Bioenergie Kufstein. In future, the new “Power2X” plant, together with Bioenergie Kufstein, will cover around 60 percent of the heat demand of Tyrol’s second-largest city with CO2-free heat. According to Tiwag, the on-site cold produced in the district hospital Kufstein can be used for the air conditioning of the operating rooms. The project also included a modern hydrogen infrastructure consisting of an electrolysis system including a filling station and fast charging systems for e-cars.
“In order to make the energy turnaround a long-term success, we must not only rely completely on renewable energies in the electricity sector, but also replace fossil fuels with renewable energies in the heat and mobility sectors,” explained Tiwag CEO Erich Entstrasser. With the planned sector coupling plant, the clean electricity from the nearby Tiwag power plant near Langkampfen could be used flexibly to produce heat, cold and hydrogen in an emission-free and climate-friendly way.
According to its own statements, Tiwag had submitted the project to the EU together with the international and national consortium partners Hydrogenics Europe from Belgium, Maximator GmbH from Germany and FEN Systems from Innsbruck as well as the subsidiary Tigas in April. Up to five million euros in funding should be in prospect. A decision is expected by the end of the year.
Numerous partners support the pilot project
In addition to the regional companies such as Stadtwerke Kufstein, MPreis, FEN Systems, Zillertaler Verkehrsbetriebe AG and Inntaler Logistik-Park, the ASFINAG Alpenstraße GmbH and Service GmbH as well as the Dettendorfer Group from Nussdorf am Inn and the automobile sizes MAN and Hyundai are among the partners. Nikolaus Fleischhacker, FEN Systems CTO , explains: “This project will prepare green hydrogen for different regional needs coverage scenarios. Among other things, it is particularly suitable for hydrogen-electric heavy traffic, which has to transport heavy loads over long distances and needs short refueling times. “
Lukas Walter, Senior Vice President at MAN Truck & Bus AG , emphasizes: “We are very intensively involved in the issue of emission-free mobility and want to launch the first prototypes of a hydrogen truck on the road in Munich by 2021 at the latest. The proximity to the TIWAG Power2X system is ideal for initial test drives. ” Georg Dettendorfer adds:” As a major freight forwarding company, we also see developments in alternative fuels, especially in the hydrogen sector, and support the Power2X Kufstein project as an important building block for the Reduction of emissions along long-distance and local traffic routes “. Appropriate declarations of intent have already been made between TIWAG and the partners.
Provincial Deputy Governor Josef Geisler sees hydrogen potential: “No other country suffers as much from truck traffic as Tyrol. If we succeed in liberating the road from emissions in addition to the increased shift of heavy traffic to rail, we make a lasting contribution to the quality of life for the people of the Inn Valley. “For TIWAG board member Johann Herdina, it is clear :” With this project TIWAG can position itself in Austria’s pioneering role and also makes a significant contribution to the greening of regional energy supply and climate protection in the country. ”
Source: Austria Press Agency eG
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