RAG & bayernets: Cross-border hydrogen deliveries stalled by missing German certificates register
- Pipeline deliveries from Austria to Germany began in September 2024 and have continued since.
- At the end of January 2026 about 630 MWh of green hydrogen had been delivered, nearly six times the initial shipment.
- Certificates of origin issued in Austria cannot be transferred because Germany lacks a compatible certificate register.
- Project partners demand rapid implementation of a German register and faster cross‑border harmonization to enable market ramp‑up.
Project scope and partners
Launched in 2021 by RAG Austria AG and bayernets GmbH, the H2 cross border project covers the hydrogen value chain from production via storage and transport to the end customer. MEGGLE Group is the buyer and Shell Energy Deutschland GmbH is a project partner.
Production and deliveries
RAG produces green hydrogen by water electrolysis with TÜV Süd certification, blends it into Austria's natural gas network and transfers it to bayernets' transport network in Burghausen for onward delivery to MEGGLE. Deliveries began in September 2024 and by the end of January 2026 reached around 630 MWh, nearly sextupling the initial volume.
Regulatory obstacle: certificates of origin
Although RAG and MEGGLE are registered in Austria's certificates database operated by E‑Control, Austrian certificates cannot be transferred to Germany because a compatible German certificate of origin register is not yet operational. Certificates therefore remain on the Austrian account and cannot be credited to German recipients. An inquiry to the German Federal Environment Agency did not yield a binding 2026 commissioning confirmation.
Requested actions
The project partners call for rapid implementation of a German certificate register, accelerated harmonization between Austria and neighboring countries, and shorter administrative paths to enable cross‑border tradability and unlock investments and scaling.
Source: RAG Austria AG