This year, HI2 Valley will also be strongly represented: as part of the summit, several Carinthian projects will be presented, providing insights into current projects, progress and next steps.

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Suits and shovels were both looking sharp when the Hy4Smelt project marked its official construction start on September 25 in Linz, Austria.

As part of the HI2 Valley, the project targets the traditionally carbon-intensive steel industry, replacing coal with clean hydrogen derived from renewable energy sources.

The collaboration involves the metallurgical research center K1-MET (member of the large Austrian green hydrogen project HI2 Valley) and steel producer voelstalpine. In addition, iron- and steel producer Primetals and mining company Rio Tinto collaborate to make the plant a reality.

The demonstration plant will be the first of its kind to combine two distinct technologies: hydrogen-fuelled electric smelting and hydrogen-based ‘reduction’ (a purification process) of metallic ore.

“These solutions pave the way for a new era in steel production,” says Dr. Alexander Fleischhandel, CTO and Head of Green Steel at Primetals Technologies, in a press release.

The Hy4Smelt project is one 17 hydrogen projects in the HI2 Valley, a € 588 mio. collaboration across the Austrian regions of Carinthia, Styria and Upper Austria.

Over 6 years, the HI2 Valley projects aim to establish a yearly production and utilisation of more than 10,000 tonnes of green hydrogen, saving 200,000 tonnes of CO2-equivalents by 2030. The industrial-scale demonstration plant in Linz is scheduled to begin first production by the end of 2027.

“Seeing construction underway of the globally unique Hy4Smelt demonstration plant once again confirms our technological and innovative leadership, also in the field of green steel production,” says Herbert Eibensteiner, CEO of voestalpine AG.

Progress and Milestones Achieved

Since the inaugural consortium meeting in February, HI2 Valley has already reached several important milestones and delivered key outputs on time. This underlines the strong commitment and professionalism of the project partners. While minor adjustments are planned across some of the 17 sub-projects, the consortium continues to comprise around 50 national and international organizations working together toward the valley’s ambitious goals.

Excursion to voestalpine

A highlight of the Linz program was the excursion to voestalpine, where partners visited the company’s electrolyzer for clean hydrogen production. voestalpine plays a key role in two HI2 Valley sub-projects:

• one located near Linz (with K1-MET GmbH among others)
• another north of Graz (together with Energie Steiermark AG)

The visit offered valuable insights into large-scale industrial hydrogen applications and strengthened the exchange between research and industry partners.

Driving Europe’s Hydrogen Future

With €20 million in EU funding and a total investment volume of €588 million, HI2 Valley is making major strides toward a hydrogen-powered future. By uniting stakeholders across regions and industries, the project continues to establish a strong foundation for decarbonization, innovation, and European energy independence.

About HI2 Valley

The HI2 Valley is co-funded by the European Union and supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and its members. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Clean Hydrogen Partnership. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Strategic Workshops and Planning

In productive workshops, the consortium partners defined key priorities and agreed on concrete measures for the coming months. These sessions ensured that all stakeholders are aligned in their efforts to build a comprehensive hydrogen ecosystem across Styria, Upper Austria, and Carinthia.

Participation of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership

The meeting was further enriched by the participation of the project officer from the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, who presented and contributed to the discussions. This underlined the strong European dimension of HI2 Valley and highlighted the importance of EU support in driving innovation and industrial transformation.

Site Visit: Renewable Gasfield

A highlight of the meeting was the excursion to the Renewable Gasfield facility operated by project partner Energienetze Steiermark Wasserstoff GmbH. The visit offered practical insights into renewable gas and hydrogen applications, providing valuable input for the implementation of the valley’s projects.

Strong Collaboration

The constructive discussions and positive feedback confirmed the strong commitment of all partners. The consortium kick-off has laid a solid foundation for collaboration, ensuring HI2 Valley starts with clear goals and a shared vision for advancing Europe’s hydrogen future.

The project brings together 48 national and international partners working jointly toward this ambition. More details about the consortium can be found on our consortium page.

About HI2 Valley

The HI2 Valley is co-funded by the European Union and supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and its members. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Clean Hydrogen Partnership. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

The initiative spans the regions of Styria, Upper Austria, and Carinthia, marking a decisive step toward the decarbonization of energy-intensive industries and reinforcing Austria’s leadership in hydrogen research and innovation.

A Milestone for Industrial Decarbonization

Hydrogen technologies are considered one of the key enablers of the transition toward climate neutrality. With the HI2 Valley, Austria is establishing a pioneering model that combines large-scale industrial applications with cutting-edge research.

“As major industrial regions in Austria, we are particularly challenged to advance the decarbonization of industry. The hydrogen valley will make a significant contribution to this effort. At the same time, it strengthens our position as leading regions in hydrogen research,” emphasized Barbara Eibinger-Miedl, Regional Minister of Styria at the kick-off event, joined by her colleagues Markus Achleitner from Upper Austria and Sebastian Schuschnig from Carinthia.

Key Figures and Projects

The HI2 Valley will roll out 17 projects covering the entire hydrogen value chain – from production and transport to storage and industrial application. Highlights include:

• 101 MW of new electrolysis capacity
• 10,000 tonnes of green hydrogen production per year
• 17 projects implemented across three federal states

By 2030, the valley aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across Austria’s industry, energy, and mobility sectors by 201,282 tonnes of CO₂-equivalents.

Economic and Climate Impact

The initiative is set to create around 2,000 new jobs, while providing clean hydrogen for industries such as steel, cement, and raw materials. This will make a decisive contribution to achieving both national and European climate targets and reducing dependence on fossil energy imports.

By connecting stakeholders across regions and industries, it establishes a blueprint for Europe’s hydrogen economy and supports the transition toward a climate-neutral and energy-independent future.

About HI2 Valley

The HI2 Valley is co-funded by the European Union and supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and its members. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Clean Hydrogen Partnership. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.