OMV Withdraws from Hydrogen: Austria Left Without Public Refueling Stations
Austria Faces Major Setback for Hydrogen Mobility as OMV Shuts Down All Public Hydrogen Stations
A serious blow to the future of hydrogen mobility is unfolding in Austria. OMV – the country’s largest operator of public hydrogen refueling stations – has announced that it will permanently shut down all its hydrogen facilities by the end of September 2025. This decision effectively eliminates public hydrogen refueling infrastructure in the Austrian market.
Only Five Stations – All Set to Close
Currently, Austria has just five hydrogen stations, located in key cities: Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, Asten, and Wiener Neudorf. These sites have played a crucial role, enabling the use of hydrogen-powered vehicles like the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo, and supporting the adoption of low-emission alternatives to conventional engines.
Closure has already begun with the Vienna station, and the remaining ones will be phased out. In practice, this means that hydrogen car owners in Austria will soon face an almost complete lack of refueling infrastructure.
Vehicles Ready – Infrastructure Disappearing
Despite offering impressive ranges – often exceeding 500 km on a single fill – hydrogen vehicles continue to face infrastructure challenges. In Austria, this gap is now widening significantly. Importantly, OMV was the sole operator of public hydrogen stations in the country, raising serious concerns about the viability and sustainability of the technology in the Austrian market.
A Step Back for the Hydrogen Economy
Experts agree that this is a major setback for the development of the hydrogen economy in Central Europe. Austria, once committed to ambitious transport decarbonization goals, may now need to reassess its hydrogen strategy.
OMV’s decision highlights a broader issue: without coherent government policy and meaningful incentives for infrastructure operators, green hydrogen – despite its benefits – remains a niche technology. To prevent its marginalization, bold action will be needed from both government and industry, including new collaboration models, public support, and investment in a national hydrogen distribution network.
Source: hydrogen-central.com