© Infineon Technologies
Infineon Technologies has begun supplying its Austrian semiconductor facility in Villach entirely with green hydrogen following the commissioning of a 2 MW electrolysis plant operated by Linde.
The shift marks one of the first full conversions of a semiconductor manufacturing site in Europe to renewable hydrogen, underscoring the sector’s push to cut emissions from highly energy-intensive processes. Hydrogen is essential as a process gas in chip production, but until now Infineon’s supply had been trucked from Germany and derived from natural gas.
Electrolyser capacity and operations
The proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser, designed and built by Linde and located on Infineon’s site, is powered exclusively by renewable electricity and will produce around 290 tonnes of high-purity hydrogen annually. This volume is sufficient to meet the Villach plant’s full requirements, according to both companies. Hydrogen of “99.999999 per cent” purity is needed to process material layers for advanced microchips.
Thomas Reisinger, Infineon Austria’s board member for operations, said the project “secures our hydrogen supply for the future and minimises supply dependencies. We are replacing the existing hydrogen from fossil sources with green hydrogen and reducing CO₂ emissions in the supply chain.”
Linde’s role and funding framework
Linde, which will operate the plant, described the facility as a milestone for industrial decarbonisation. Richard Hagenfeldt, managing director of Linde Electronics, said that integrating hydrogen production directly into semiconductor manufacturing “strengthens Austria as an industrial location.”
The project was developed under the H2Pioneer research initiative, backed by Austrian utility Verbund and several academic partners, and supported through the Climate and Energy Fund of the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection. Linde first announced the electrolyser in 2021, originally targeting a 2022 start-up; equipment was delivered to the site in 2023 before commissioning in August 2025.
Implications for the hydrogen economy
For the semiconductor industry, where production chains are highly globalised and vulnerable to supply disruption, on-site renewable hydrogen production reduces logistical risks as well as emissions. It also aligns with Infineon’s group-wide carbon neutrality goals, while giving Austria a demonstration case in hydrogen use for advanced manufacturing.
The development highlights the growing role of hydrogen in hard-to-abate sectors. While current volumes are small compared with heavy industry, projects such as Villach’s could signal broader adoption as companies seek to balance competitiveness, secure inputs, and comply with tightening EU climate targets.
