Austria will once again make use of the Auction-as-a-Service mechanism made available by the European Commission, allocating up to 200 million euros to national renewable hydrogen production projects as part of the forthcoming European Hydrogen Bank auction, which is scheduled to begin in December 2026 with an EU budget of 500 million.
This is the second time that Austria has used this system, already utilised in 2024 with a budget allocation which at the time totalled 400 million euros.
“Hydrogen is a key element for the future of our industry and, therefore, for creating value and jobs in Austria,” commented Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy. “That is why we are resolutely continuing along the path we have taken and, for the second time, are making funds available through the European Hydrogen Bank to support domestic production. In this way, we are linking European tender procedures to Austria’s industrial development policies: support will be given to projects that contribute to building the hydrogen economy.”.
Under the 2024 scheme, Austria had supported four national hydrogen production projects, with a total electrolysis capacity of 171 MW, to which approximately 275 million euros had been allocated; the funding agreements for these projects have since been signed.
“The first round of funding has shown that there are concrete and sound projects in Austria. We are now launching the next wave of investment, which also forms an important part of the industrial strategy. It is essential that hydrogen strategies are translated into projects. This is precisely where we are stepping in with this support scheme,” said Hattmannsdorfer.
To prepare for Austria’s participation, the Ministry of Economy and Energy conducted a six-week public call for expressions of interest, running from mid-July to 25 August 2026. The aim was to assess the funding requirements and the potential of existing projects with a view to supporting them with national funds.
At the same time, the Ministry of Economy and Energy is drawing up the necessary national guidelines for support, based on the European Commission’s final provisions. To this end, the State aid procedure with the European Commission will be initiated and the agreement with the Ministry of Finance, as provided for in the Hydrogen Support Act, will be secured.
