OMV is setting another milestone on the road toward a climate-neutral energy future by laying the foundation stone for one of the largest electrolysis plants for green hydrogen in Europe. The 140 MW plant in Bruck an der Leitha is scheduled to go into operation at the end of 2027. OMV will produce up to 23,000 tons of hydrogen annually in future using renewable energy from wind, solar, and hydropower, making a significant contribution toward reducing the company’s carbon emissions.

The new plant will enable the local production of green hydrogen and thus significantly increase the sustainability of the production processes, as well as the fuel and chemical products at the OMV refinery in Schwechat. OMV expects this to result in an annual reduction of up to 150,000 tons of carbon emissions* – i.e., around 10 percent of the refinery's current direct, production-related emissions.

Alfred Stern, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of OMV: “The construction of our state-of-the-art plant for green hydrogen is a clear signal for the energy transition. We are creating an integrated ecosystem based on the use of green hydrogen – supported by technological innovation, modern infrastructure, political support, and strong partnerships. Green hydrogen is a key component of our Strategy 2030 as a means of decarbonizing our fuel production and a key to OMV's responsible transformation. With this project, we are reaffirming our long-term commitment to sustainable energy solutions and strengthening our role as a pioneer in the development and supply of green hydrogen.”

OMV is investing a sum in the mid-hundreds of millions of euros in the plant. The company will construct a hydrogen pipeline around 22 kilometers long as part of this investment, connecting the electrolysis plant in Bruck an der Leitha directly to the refinery in Schwechat. The operating permit and the building permit have already been granted for this.

The project was assessed positively for funding by the European Hydrogen Bank. The funding agreement is currently being finalized in cooperation with the Austrian promotional bank Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (aws), which acts as the national processing office for the European Hydrogen Bank’s funding program. A contract with the Austrian Hydrogen Bank is expected to be signed by the end of 2025. The plant is scheduled to go into operation at the end of 2027, subject to the funding approval.

The project underlines OMV’s pioneering position in green hydrogen production in the refinery sector in Europe. The company already operates a 10 MW electrolyzer in Austria. The planned large-scale plant in Bruck an der Leitha with an electrolyzer size of 140 MW will be the largest of its kind in Austria, in South-Eastern Europe and one of the five largest in Europe.

For implementation of this project, OMV is relying on proven partners: Siemens Energy will bring extensive expertise in electrolysis technology and plant construction, while STRABAG will be responsible for the entire civil construction work. The plant will be constructed under an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) contract, that OMV has awarded to the consortium led by Siemens Energy which is responsible for the complete planning, procurement, and construction of the plant. Siemens Energy will take over the overall technical planning of the plant and will be supplying and implementing key components such as electrolysis stacks, transformers, rectifiers, and compressors, which are used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable energy.

Juha Pankakoski, Extended Board Member of Siemens Energy: “As consortium leader, we are pleased to be working with OMV and STRABAG to build one of Europe’s largest electrolysis plants. Our technology enables the efficient and scalable production of green hydrogen as an important energy source of the future. Projects like this provide important impetus for the development of the hydrogen market.”

STRABAG will bring extensive expertise in the planning and construction of industrial infrastructure. In addition to the groundwork, the company will be responsible for constructing all buildings on the site.

Stefan Kratochwill, CEO of STRABAG: “Green hydrogen can play a crucial role in the energy system of the future. This electrolysis plant is a milestone on the road toward more sustainable mobility. Together with Siemens Energy, we are proud to be building one of the largest plants in Europe for OMV and to be showcasing our expertise in high-tech buildings. These projects show that nothing ventured, nothing gained, and we can only shape the future of energy by taking bold steps.”