Authors

L. Rainer, C. Nagl, MAT Energy Systems GmbH, Vienna

Year

2026

Print Info

Production/Publication ÖVK

Summary

The rapid expansion of variable renewable energy (VRE) in European electricity systems shifts the system challenge from generation capacity toward flexibility and temporal balancing. Austria, with renewable electricity shares approaching 90%, provides a relevant case for analyzing medium-duration storage solutions beyond short-duration battery systems. This paper examines under which technical and market conditions hydrogen-based storage with above-ground pressure vessels can operate economically in the hours-to-multi-day range when implemented as a multi-use Hydrogen Energy Hub.
The proposed hub integrates electrolysis, compression, above-ground hydrogen storage, re-electrification via a hydrogen-fuelled ICE-generator-set, and diversified hydrogen offtake pathways including an AFIR-compliant refueling station. Storage technologies are differentiated analytically by discharge duration, positioning hydrogen systems within the medium-duration segment with scalable extension into multi-day applications. The Austrian market framework is assessed with particular focus on automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve (aFRR), day-ahead and intraday markets, and revenue stacking mechanisms. The integrated configuration enables bidirectional participation in balancing markets and coordinated dispatch across electricity and hydrogen domains, thereby reducing exclusive dependency on long-term hydrogen offtake agreements.
…

ISBN

978-3-9504969-5-6

DOI

https://doi.org/10.62626/oxx7-fsmf Copy link

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