Underground Sun Storage: TÜV AUSTRIA tests the world’s first geological hydrogen storage facility

19.07.2023

TÜV AUSTRIA ensures safety at this unique demonstration plant for the storage of green hydrogen.

In this lead project, renewable solar energy is converted into green hydrogen in a climate-neutral way by means of electrolysis and stored in a pure form in former natural gas deposits. The scale of the storage corresponds to the summer surplus of about 1,000 photovoltaic systems on single-family homes or 4.2 million kWh (4.2 GWh). In summer, this surplus energy is stored and in winter the green energy can be provided again in the form of electricity and heat.

Plant operator RAG AUSTRIA AG has been a customer of TÜV AUSTRIA for many years and also relies on reliable quality and safety for the future-oriented project “Underground Sun Storage 2030” (USS 2030) and commissions TÜV AUSTRIA with the acceptance test of the plant. “For RAG AUSTRIA AG, the cooperation with TÜV AUSTRIA is essential in order to guarantee the required highest safety standards. The special requirements in this project were fulfilled by the TÜV AUSTRIA specialists in a proven manner, competently and flexibly, to our complete satisfaction”. Werner Bogner, Team Leader Renewables & Decarbonisation / Green Gas Technology Department, summarises the cooperation.

Around two years after the start of the project, the system and storage tank of “Underground Sun Storage” were inspected with regard to electrical, pressure and control technology. TÜV AUSTRIA experts Ing. Daniel Wetsch, Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Florian Rainer and Dipl.-Ing. Oliver Lugmayr carried out the electrical system inspection and machine safety inspection on site. It was ensured that the machines comply with the requirements of the Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC) and, with regard to the electrical equipment, with the EN 60204 standard. Furthermore, TÜV AUSTRIA test engineer Dipl.-Ing. Leonhard Hofer checked the functional safety and engineer Dietmar Heimberger inspected the system with regard to pressure equipment aspects.

Targeting expertise in dealing with hydrogen

During the acceptance test, special attention had to be paid to the property of hydrogen as an extremely volatile element. This had to be taken into account especially during the pressure equipment test, as it had to be ensured that all seals and connection components, in particular, not only withstand the necessary high pressure – tested at up to 90 bar – but also do so in combination with H2. But also with regard to the avoidance of explosion hazards, the volatility of hydrogen had to be carefully considered. One focus of the inspection was on the machine in which the electrolysis, i.e. the conversion of water into hydrogen, takes place, in order to rule out the possibility of an H2 atmosphere developing here.

In this research project, interdisciplinary technical-scientific investigations for energy storage under real conditions are being carried out at a small former natural gas deposit in the municipality of Gampern (Upper Austria) under the leadership of RAG AUSTRIA AG together with the project partners. The aim is to jointly gain valuable technical and economic knowledge for the development of a secure hydrogen supply.

TÜV AUSTRIA’s expertise in hydrogen was put to optimal use in this project and makes an important contribution to the energy transition while maintaining security of supply.

CEO Stefan Haas & CFO Christoph Wenninger present the TÜV AUSTRIA annual report "Living the Future 24" The current annual report provides a compact overview of the TÜV AUSTRIA Group's activities in another successful year in the company's history. The TÜV AUSTRIA annual report focuses in particular on the areas of testing, inspection and certification, digitalization and innovation, sustainability, education and training as well as research and development and the associated initiatives and solutions offered by the independent Austrian group of companies operating in 37 countries with over 100 locations and currently more than 3,900 employees.

Success in research, innovation and sustainability

Strong team performance
TÜV AUSTRIA Annual Report

CEO Stefan Haas & CFO Christoph Wenninger present the TÜV AUSTRIA annual report “Living the Future 24”. The TÜV AUSTRIA annual report focuses in particular on the areas of testing, inspection and certification, digitalization and innovation, sustainability, education and training as well as research and development and the associated initiatives and solutions offered by the independent Austrian group of companies operating in 37 countries with over 100 locations and currently more than 3,900 employees.

TÜV AUSTRIA Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report 2025

Corporate Social Responsibility

TÜV AUSTRIA presents its
CSR Report 2025

TÜV AUSTRIA Group presents its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report 2025.

Crescenzo Di Fratta (TÜV AUSTRIA Italia’s managing director and TÜV AUSTRIA Group’s country manager of Italy) and CERTIFICAZIONI srl managers Fiammetta Odoni and Stefano Liverani

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TÜV AUSTRIA acquires Imola-based inspection and certification specialist

CERTIFICAZIONI srl joins TÜV AUSTRIA Group, delivering expert inspection and certification services across Italy and abroad – from elevators and electrical systems to microbiological analysis.

ZfP Eindringprüfung featuredimage

Training

Internationally renowned:
Our training center for non-destructive testing (NDT)

TÜV AUSTRIA operates an internationally renowned, state-of-the-art training center for non-destructive testing (NDT) at the Technology & Innovation Center in Vienna-Inzersdorf.

Cambodia’s First OK Recycled EN 15343 Certification Successfully Issued

OK Recycled

Cambodia’s First OK Recycled / EN 15343
Certification Successfully Issued

HONG HING Packaging Materials (Cambodia) Co., Ltd. officially obtained the OK recycled certification from TÜV AUSTRIA, becoming the first company in Cambodia to achieve this international certification.

CEO Stefan Haas & CFO Christoph Wenninger present the TÜV AUSTRIA annual report "Living the Future 24" The current annual report provides a compact overview of the TÜV AUSTRIA Group's activities in another successful year in the company's history. The TÜV AUSTRIA annual report focuses in particular on the areas of testing, inspection and certification, digitalization and innovation, sustainability, education and training as well as research and development and the associated initiatives and solutions offered by the independent Austrian group of companies operating in 37 countries with over 100 locations and currently more than 3,900 employees.
TÜV AUSTRIA Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report 2025
Crescenzo Di Fratta (TÜV AUSTRIA Italia’s managing director and TÜV AUSTRIA Group’s country manager of Italy) and CERTIFICAZIONI srl managers Fiammetta Odoni and Stefano Liverani
ZfP Eindringprüfung featuredimage
Cambodia’s First OK Recycled EN 15343 Certification Successfully Issued
ASME Audit 1200x932

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