OMV starts construction of the largest electrolysis plant for green hydrogen!

OMV starts construction of the largest electrolysis plant for green hydrogen!

The Austrian company OMV is taking a significant step towards the production of green hydrogen. On October 2, 2025, the partially state-owned oil company began building an electrolysis plant in Bruck an der Leitha, which will produce around 23,000 tons of green hydrogen annually. This facility is considered the largest in Austria and Southeast Europe and is among the five largest in Europe OMV reported.

The hydrogen produced is sent via a 22 kilometer long pipeline to the refinery in Schwechat, where around 50,000 tons of natural gas hydrogen (H₂) are consumed annually. The aim of this new facility is to contribute to the decarbonization of the refinery's industrial processes. Loud ECONEWS However, OMV's long-term orientation remains focused on crude oil and its processing.

Environmental influences and investments

OMV is investing a mid-three-digit million euro amount to build this advanced electrolysis plant. Commissioning is expected at the end of 2027. The new plant will produce hydrogen from renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and hydropower. This could save up to 150,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, representing approximately 10% of the refinery's current emissions. These approaches to low-emission production are in line with the goals of the European Union, which is linked to the initiative of European Hydrogen Bank to promote the production of green hydrogen.

The European Hydrogen Bank ensures financial support for green hydrogen production projects through its auction rounds. In the latest round, 61 bids were submitted from eleven European countries, demonstrating continued demand for solutions to decarbonize industry and expand the hydrogen economy.

Technological partnerships

OMV has gained both Siemens Energy and STRABAG as partners to implement the promising hydrogen project. Siemens Energy will be responsible for planning the system and supplying central components, while STRABAG will be responsible for the construction. This consolidated approach under an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) contract is intended to ensure that the new technologies are implemented efficiently.

Although OMV is now investing in the future of hydrogen production, there are challenges that need to be overcome. The necessary generation of green electricity not only has to be economical, but also has to be secured through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs). In addition, the transport structures and the purchase of green hydrogen must offer viable business models in order to successfully establish the market, as in the analyses Handelsblatt is highlighted.

As OMV enters the hydrogen era, it remains to be seen how this move will impact the future direction of the company, whose roots are deeply rooted in the fossil fuel sector.