Carinthia starts hydrogen revolution: 35 buses for clean local transport

Carinthia starts hydrogen revolution: 35 buses for clean local transport

in Carinthia, an important step for the mobility of the future: From May 2026, Austria's first hydrogen bus fleet will start operating in regional traffic. This pioneering project called "Decarb" - Decarbonising Carinthian Bus Transport - was recently presented as part of a press conference. It was initiated by the State of Economics and Mobility Sebastian Schuschnig and unites several key partners, including the Carinthian electricity company (Kelag) and Postbus AG.

The fleet will consist of 35 hydrogen -powered buses that are used in the surrounding area of Villach. Interestingly, the required hydrogen is generated where it is needed: by a new electrolysis system that is operated with green electricity. This innovative system will be able to produce around 700 kilograms of hydrogen every day, which means that about 60 percent are used for refueling the buses. As a result, around 700,000 liters of diesel can be saved annually - a decisive progress in the direction of more environmentally friendly mobility.

financing and sustainability

The project has a total volume of around 40 million euros, with a significant part of the funds from various funding - including 15 million euros from federal funds and 11 million euros from the funding of the Austrian research funding company. These investments are not only a financial milestone, but also a clear signal that Carinthia is establishing themselves as a sustainable location for hydrogen technology. "We secure the future of productive hydrogen production and at the same time create new impulses for the local economy," emphasized showering at the presentation.

The hydrogen petrol station, which is operated for this bus fleet, is another part of the infrastructure. It is built by Gutmann GmbH and is planned as a company public gas station, which should also be accessible to other users. This shows the commitment not only to decarbonize public transport, but also to supply industry with this sustainable energy source.

The decision for this innovative project is no coincidence: Carinthia has dealt intensively with hydrogen technology since 2020 and has developed a broad hydrogen roadmap 2035 that pursues clear goals for decarbonization. The latest successes, such as the selection of Carinthia to the first members of the first hydrogen valley across Austria, illustrate the high importance that the region occupies in the field of hydrogen.

The initiators emphasize that this project not only represents technological progress in public transport, but also an example of how circuit and mobility can grow together. For example, the waste heat generated during electrolysis is fed into the district heating network. The oxygen generated should also be used directly in the waste incineration plant.

meaning for the future

The board members of the companies involved emphasize that the hydrogen bus fleet can be not only for Carinthia, but also a model for other regions. "This ambitious pilot project makes a decisive contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creates a basis for local transport that is based on local renewable energies," says Franz Winkler from Hycenta Research GmbH.

All in all, this project is a strong commitment to the energy transition and shows how an innovative approaches can design a climate and environmentally friendly future. The focus is clearly on the long -term change in the mobility sector, whereby Carinthia is aiming for a pioneering role in hydrogen technology.

For further information on the developments in the field of hydrogen mobility in Carinthia you can read here .