Austrian oil, gas, and chemical group OMV has begun construction of a hydrogen electrolysis plant in Bruck an der Leitha, Lower Austria. With a capacity of 140 megawatts (MW), the facility is expected to become one of the five largest electrolyzers in Europe. Starting at the end of 2027, it is projected to produce up to 23,000 tons of hydrogen annually from renewable electricity and thus make a “significant” contribution to reducing OMV’s emissions, according to a press release.
OMV plans to use the green hydrogen for the production of gasoline and diesel, replacing hydrogen that has so far been derived from natural gas. The electrolysis plant will be connected directly to OMV’s Schwechat refinery via a 22-kilometer pipeline.
The company is investing €700 million in the project, according to the release. The project is being supported by the European Hydrogen Bank. Construction of the facility has been commissioned to a consortium led by German energy technology group Siemens Energy, with Austrian construction firm Strabag handling execution.
