Energy transition

The energy transition in the pipeline

Austria has set itself the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2040 at the latest.

Currently, about 80% of greenhouse gas emissions in Austria are caused by the transport, building, energy and industry sectors and thus come from the energy system. In order to drive decarbonisation forward, the course for a sustainable energy system turnaround must be set today.

As an innovative co-designer of the Austrian energy infrastructure, it is the responsibility of AGGM to point out possibilities and ways for a climate-neutral future. To this end, AGGM has launched a series of initiatives to find solutions on how a sustainable energy system turnaround can be achieved quickly and in an economically efficient manner.

Our initiatives for climate neutral energy

Ein Symbolbild der AGGM zum Energiewende-Projekt ONE100

ONE100

Model for an optimised 100% climate-neutral, decarbonised energy system in 2040.
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Ein Symbolbild der AGGM zum Energiewende-Projekt H2 Roadmap

H2 Roadmap

A hydrogen roadmap for Austria - H2 demand and infrastructure until 2050.
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Ein Symbolbild der AGGM zum Energiewende-Projekt inGRID

inGRID

A digital map with the optimal feed-in points for renewable gases.
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The potential of renewable gases

Pipeline-Bottom

Green gases - pillars of the energy transition

Hydrogen

The climate-neutral energy component hydrogen is produced from renewable electricity using electrolysis.

Hydrogen (H2) is an odorless, non-toxic gas with a calorific value of 3.54 kWh/Nm3. The use of H2 produces no CO2 emissions.

In its pure form, hydrogen can be transported using the existing gas infrastructure.

Hydrogen can be stored reliably and in large quantities in underground storage facilities. An important project for the implementation of a hydrogen storage infrastructure is "Underground Sun Storage 2030" by RAG Austria AG.
Underground Sun Storage 2030

Biomethane from biogas

The fermentation of organic material (wet biomass) produces biogas – a mixture of approximately 50% methane and 50% carbon dioxide.

This process uses materials such as plant waste, residues from the food industry, the contents of organic waste bins, manure, or sewage sludge. These raw materials are generated as byproducts in the industry and require no additional production costs.

When the biogenic carbon dioxide is separated from the biogas, biomethane is produced.

Due to its chemical properties, biomethane can replace natural gas 1:1 and can be fed into the existing gas grid, transported, and stored.

Biomethane from wood gas

The thermal decomposition (gasification) of organic material (solid biomass) produces wood gas – a mixture of methane, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide.

Forest residues, bark, and sawmill byproducts are used for this process. These raw materials arise as byproducts in the timber industry, require no additional production effort, and are already largely used for energy (burned).

In a further step, the hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide molecules contained in the wood gas are converted into methane. This produces biomethane.

Due to its chemical properties, biomethane can replace natural gas 1:1 and can be fed into the existing gas grid, transported, and stored.

Synthetic gas

Power-to-gas technology uses water electrolysis to produce green hydrogen from renewable electricity.

In a second step, the hydrogen is converted into synthetic methane using biogenic carbon dioxide.

Due to its chemical properties, biomethane can replace natural gas 1:1 and be fed into the existing gas grid, transported, and stored.