OMV has officially begun construction of a 140-megawatt green hydrogen plant in Bruck an der Leitha, marking a major step forward in Austria’s clean energy ambitions. Once operational, the facility will be the largest electrolysis plant in South-Eastern Europe and among the top five in Europe.

Source: OMV

Powered by renewable energy sources including wind, solar, and hydropower, the plant is expected to produce up to 23,000 tonnes of hydrogen annually. The green hydrogen will supply the OMV Schwechat refinery via a newly built 22-kilometre pipeline, helping decarbonise fuel and chemical production processes.

According to OMV, the project could cut carbon emissions by up to 150,000 tonnes each year, representing about 10% of the refinery’s current direct emissions.

The project has received a positive evaluation from the European Hydrogen Bank, and OMV aims to finalise a funding agreement with the Austrian Hydrogen Bank by the end of 2025. Subject to approval, the facility is scheduled to begin operations in late 2027.

OMV already runs a 10 MW electrolyser in Austria, but the new large-scale installation will significantly expand the company’s hydrogen production capacity.

The Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for the project has been awarded to a consortium led by Siemens Energy, which will handle the full design, procurement, and construction. STRABAG will carry out the civil works.

^{Alfred Stern, OMV’s CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board}

We are building an integrated ecosystem for green hydrogen, supported by innovation, robust infrastructure, and strategic partnerships. Hydrogen plays a central role in our Strategy 2030 and is key to the decarbonisation of our fuel production.