Hydrogen from renewable energy
At the heart of the project is a five-megawatt electrolysis plant. Using electricity from renewable sources, water is split into its constituent parts: hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen produced in this way is considered ‘green’ because no fossil fuels are used in its production. In future, up to 750 tonnes of green hydrogen are to be produced annually in Bergla.
A significant proportion of the electricity required is to come from Energie Steiermark’s wind farms in the district of Deutschlandsberg. A direct power line will connect the new production facility to the St. Martin industrial estate, where Wolfram AG operates its site. This will create a regional value chain in which renewable energy is used directly for industrial applications.
An important step for the industry
Wolfram AG is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-quality tungsten powders and forms part of the international Sandvik Group. Its production processes are among the most energy-intensive industrial processes, and the transition to climate-friendly technologies is particularly challenging for this sector. This is precisely where green hydrogen comes into play.
The use of this new energy source is expected to save up to 8,500 tonnes of CO₂ per year in future. At the same time, the project supports the company’s long-term strategy to significantly reduce its emissions and achieve the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
Millions in funding for future technology
Public support also demonstrates that hydrogen is regarded as a key technology for the energy transition. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism is funding the project with up to 28.5 million euros over the next ten years. Construction work is set to begin in autumn 2026, with commissioning scheduled for 2027. Plans are already being considered for a future expansion of the plant to supply further industrial customers with green hydrogen.
A building block for a climate-neutral future
Whilst many sectors can already switch directly to renewable electricity, there are branches of industry where electrification is only possible to a limited extent. Green hydrogen offers one of the few realistic ways of replacing fossil fuels and making production processes more climate-friendly. This #brilliant project in Bergla demonstrates how energy suppliers and industrial companies can break new ground together to combine climate protection with competitiveness.
