The Baumgarten compressor station in Lower Austria is undergoing a significant transformation. Known for decades as a central natural gas hub for Austria, as well as Central and Eastern Europe, this energy node is now adapting to changing market conditions while preparing for a future as a hydrogen hub.
Continuity amid change
At the turn of the year 2024/2025, the situation changed fundamentally: Gas transit from the east via Ukraine was discontinued. Nevertheless, Baumgarten remains a crucial natural gas hub for the region. The infrastructure was adapted in time to meet the new circumstances, ensuring continued security of supply.
New supply routes
Natural gas deliveries from alternative sources are now flowing into the station:
- Through the West Austria gas pipeline (WAG), Norwegian gas and LNG imported via coastal terminals in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands reach Baumgarten.
- The TAG pipeline – Trans Austria Gasleitung – transports gas from Italy, sourced from North Africa, Azerbaijan and LNG from the four existing regasification terminals along the Italian coast.
- A fifth Italian LNG terminal in Ravenna is set to commence operations in the second quarter of 2025, further enhancing supply security.
Together with Austria’s gas storage facilities, these corridors ensure reliable natural gas supply not only for Austria but also for neighboring EU countries.
Strengthening regional and cross-border energy supply
Baumgarten is not only a key hub for international gas transit but also plays a crucial role in regional and domestic gas distribution. The station ensures a stable energy supply across multiple regions by:
- Foundation of Austria’s gas market model (entry-exit system) by connecting Austria with Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia, Italy, and Hungary.
- Connection point to the Primary Distribution System (PVS), which supplies major consumers such as the refinery south of Vienna.
- Supply hub for Vienna’s gas network, which is fed via the PVS.
- Link to gas storage facilities in Lower Austria, Upper Austria, and Slovakia. Question: When we are talking
- Distributing domestic natural gas: Facilitating the transport of gas from Austrian production sites, such as those in Lower Austria.
Additionally, Baumgarten enables comprehensive gas distribution through two major pipeline systems:
- the West-Austria-Gasleitung (WAG) pipeline, which serves communities throughout Lower and Upper Austria, and
- the Trans Austria Gasleitung (TAG) pipeline, which supplies Lower Austrian regions, Styria and Carinthia while also facilitating gas transport to and from Italy. The TAG pipeline is capable of bidirectional operation. Natural gas can be carried in both forward flow (from the SK/AT interconnection point at Baumgarten to the AT/IT interconnection point at Arnoldstein) and in the opposite direction, called reverse flow.
This extensive network ensures that Baumgarten’s influence extends well beyond regional distribution to encompass a truly European-scale energy distribution system.
Future vision: Hydrogen hub
While Baumgarten continues to serve as a natural gas hub, operators Gas Connect Austria and TAG GmbH are actively working on its transformation also into a hydrogen hub. The goal is to integrate Austria into the emerging European hydrogen network. Both companies are engaged in numerous projects and initiatives, including:
- SoutH2 Corridor – Establishing a high-performance hydrogen infrastructure between Southern Europe and other European countries.
- SunsHyne Corridor and H2EU+Store – Key additional hydrogen transport routes.
- Active participation in European networks, such as the European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB), the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance, Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG) and the European Network of Hydrogen Transmission System Operators (ENNOH).
Austria’s hydrogen roadmap, developed by AGGM, already outlines concrete options for a future national hydrogen network, with Baumgarten playing a central role.
A dual strategy for the future
While the vision of a hydrogen hub progresses, Baumgarten will continue to function as a natural gas node, ensuring regional supply security. TAG GmbH and Gas Connect Austria GmbH are in close dialogue with political stakeholders at both national and European levels to assess future demand and make necessary preparations.
Baumgarten stands as a prime example of the transition within Europe’s energy system – shifting from traditional natural gas trade toward a sustainable, hydrogen-based energy supply to safeguard energy security.
