Hydrogen buses for Villach: Innovation in regional traffic from May 2026

Hydrogen buses for Villach: Innovation in regional traffic from May 2026

In May 2026, a pioneering project in the area of mobility in Austria will start in Carinthia: A hydrogen bus fleet will revolutionize regional traffic in and around Villach. In a rapid development, the project "Decarb" - Decarbonising Carinthian Bus Transport - was presented in the Carinthian state government on November 22, 2023. Under the leadership of the State Economic and Mobility Council Sebastian Schuschnig, various companies and institutions have teamed up in order to make this innovative step possible.

The project includes the use of a total of 35 hydrogen -powered buses, which are to be used in regional transport from 2026. These buses are operated with hydrogen, which is produced in a special electrolysis system at the Arnoldstein location. This system has an output of two megawatts and produces around 700 kilograms of hydrogen every day. Remarkably, 60 percent of this production will be used to refuel the new bus fleet from the start of the project, which means that around 700,000 liters of diesel can be saved annually.

investments and funding

A total of around 40 million euros will be invested for the project. This sum is made up of various funding, including 15 million euros from federal money, 11 million euros from the research funding company (EBIN-Call) and 2 million euros from EU funds. The remaining funds are provided by the individual consortial partners. "We made the restart of the project at a record pace of securing 28 million euros in funding for Carinthia," said State Councilor Schuschnig. The goal is to develop Carinthia into an innovation location for hydrogen mobility.

The waste heat generated by the electrolysis system is to be used in the long term for the district heating network. The oxygen that occurs during electrolysis is also not wasted, but is used in the nearby waste incineration plant. This not only redesigned the traffic, but also new uses for the generated resources.

technological innovation in transport

The “Decarb” project is a decisive step towards a more environmentally friendly future. The entire mileage of the buses is provided as decarbonized, and soon Carinthia will do pioneering work in the use of hydrogen as fuel in public transport. This innovativity is not only important for mobility, but also for industry, since the hydrogen is also to be provided for industrial applications.

Carinthia has been increasingly working with hydrogen technology since 2020, and a year later, comprehensive hydrogen potential analysis was carried out by Hycenta GmbH. This preparatory work led to the development of a hydrogen road map until 2035, which defines the country's future strategy in the field of hydrogen technology. Carinthia was recently awarded as a member of the first Austrian hydrogen Valley, which underlines responsibility for excellent hydrogen projects. Further information on this important project can be found to read at www.dolomitstadt.at .