OMV Secures €123 Million in Public Funding for Austria’s Largest Green Hydrogen Project
OMV, Austria’s integrated energy and chemicals company, has taken a major step forward in advancing the country’s hydrogen economy after signing a funding agreement with Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (aws) that guarantees up to €123 million in production funding for a large-scale green hydrogen facility planned in Bruck an der Leitha, Lower Austria. The project represents the largest green hydrogen initiative ever undertaken in Austria and one of the most ambitious hydrogen developments in Europe.
The funding follows a positive assessment by the European Hydrogen Bank (EHB), which evaluated the project under its framework for supporting industrial-scale hydrogen production across the European Union. The EHB’s endorsement and the subsequent national funding commitment underscore the project’s strategic importance for both Austria’s long-term energy transition and Europe’s broader decarbonization goals.
Once operational, the Bruck an der Leitha plant will play a central role in Austria’s national hydrogen strategy, while also supporting OMV’s corporate Strategy 2030, which focuses on reducing carbon emissions, transforming industrial operations, and accelerating the shift toward sustainable energy solutions.
A Strong Signal for Austria and Europe
Alfred Stern, Chairman of the Executive Board and Chief Executive Officer of OMV, described the funding decision as a powerful endorsement of Austria’s role in the clean energy transition.
“The positive assessment made by the European Hydrogen Bank and the resulting funding from the Austrian state for our green hydrogen plant is a strong signal for the future of sustainable energy supply and Austria as a location,” Stern said. “With our project, we are setting a milestone for the energy transition in Europe and showing how OMV combines innovation and responsibility.”
The project reflects a growing recognition among policymakers and industry leaders that green hydrogen will be essential for decarbonizing sectors that are difficult to electrify, including refining, chemicals, steelmaking, and heavy transport. By backing large-scale production projects, governments aim to reduce costs, scale up supply chains, and position Europe as a global leader in clean hydrogen technologies.
Major Investment and Industrial Scale
OMV plans to invest a mid-hundreds-of-millions-euro amount in the Bruck an der Leitha facility, highlighting the company’s long-term commitment to hydrogen as a cornerstone of its future energy portfolio. The plant will have an installed electrolyzer capacity of 140 megawatts (MW) and is scheduled to begin operations by the end of 2027.
Once online, the facility is expected to rank among the five largest green hydrogen plants in Europe, marking a significant expansion of industrial-scale hydrogen production capacity in the region. At full capacity, the plant will produce up to 23,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year, using electricity sourced exclusively from renewable energy, including wind, solar, and hydropower.
This renewable-powered approach ensures that the hydrogen produced qualifies as truly “green,” meaning it is generated without associated carbon emissions. As a result, the project is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 150,000 tonnes annually, making a substantial contribution to Austria’s climate targets and OMV’s decarbonization roadmap.
Direct Link to Refinery Operations
A key feature of the project is its direct integration with OMV’s existing industrial infrastructure. The green hydrogen produced in Bruck an der Leitha will be transported via a 22-kilometer dedicated pipeline to OMV’s refinery in Schwechat, one of the company’s most important refining and petrochemical hubs.
Martijn van Koten, OMV Executive Vice President for Fuels and Chemicals, emphasized the strategic importance of local hydrogen production for industrial decarbonization.
“By generating green hydrogen locally, this plant with a 22-kilometer pipeline running directly to the OMV refinery in Schwechat will make a considerable contribution to our decarbonization,” van Koten said.
Hydrogen is already used extensively in refining processes, particularly for desulfurization and fuel upgrading. Replacing conventional hydrogen—typically produced from natural gas—with green hydrogen enables immediate and measurable emissions reductions without requiring major changes to downstream processes.
Alignment With European Hydrogen Policy
The project aligns closely with European Union climate and energy policies, including the EU Hydrogen Strategy and the Fit for 55 package, which aim to scale up renewable hydrogen production to support net-zero targets by 2050. Through instruments such as the European Hydrogen Bank, the EU seeks to bridge the cost gap between green hydrogen and fossil-based alternatives, enabling early projects to reach commercial viability.
Austria’s decision to provide production funding through aws reflects a broader trend across Europe, where governments are combining EU-level mechanisms with national support schemes to accelerate hydrogen deployment.
Partnership With Masdar
To further strengthen the project’s financial and operational foundation, OMV announced in November 2025 that it had signed an agreement with Masdar, a leading global clean energy company headquartered in Abu Dhabi. The two companies plan to establish a joint venture (JV) focused on the financing, construction, and operation of the 140 MW electrolyzer facility.
Masdar brings extensive experience in renewable energy development and large-scale project execution, making it a strategic partner for OMV as it expands into hydrogen production. The joint venture is expected to be formally concluded in early 2026, subject to the completion of final documentation, shareholder approvals, and regulatory clearances.
A Cornerstone for the Energy Transition
The Bruck an der Leitha green hydrogen project represents more than a single industrial investment. It serves as a cornerstone project for Austria’s hydrogen ecosystem, providing a foundation for future hydrogen-based applications across industry and transport.
For OMV, the project reinforces its transformation from a traditional oil and gas company into a sustainable energy and chemicals provider, balancing energy security, industrial competitiveness, and climate responsibility. As hydrogen markets mature and demand grows, large-scale projects like this one are expected to play a decisive role in shaping Europe’s low-carbon energy future.
Source Link: https://www.omv.com/
