Investing in a green future:
We are planning to build Austria's largest electrolysis plant for the production of green hydrogen.
The planned plant will produce green hydrogen from water using renewable energy from sources such as wind and solar. This project is an important step on our path to climate neutrality by 2050 and contributes to achieving the European climate protection targets.
Key project information
- Potential location: Bruck an der Leitha, near the Sarasdorf substation
- Electrolysis capacity: Up to 200 MW
- Hydrogen production: Up to 30,000 metric tons per year
- Water demand: ca. 300,000 m3 per year*
- CO₂ savings: ca. 150,000 metric tons per year
- Construction beginning: Mid-2025 • Commissioning: Q4 2027
* About half of the water is returned to nature and can be used for irrigation, for example.
Potential CO₂ savings at the Schwechat refinery
Construction of the plant is scheduled to begin in mid-2025, with commissioning planned for the fourth quarter of 2027. The green hydrogen produced will be transported to the nearby Schwechat refinery via an underground pipeline. Based on internal calculations, the use of green hydrogen in the refinery could save ca. 150,000 metric tons of CO₂ per year – roughly equivalent to the annual consumption of 55,000 cars*
*Based on an annual mileage of 20,000 kilometers per vehicle, diesel consumption of 5.3 liters per 100 kilometers, and CO₂ emissions of 2.617 kilograms per liter, the total emissions amount to 152,000 metric tons of CO₂
Strategic location
The site near the Sarasdorf substation was selected due to its network capacity and the availability of wind energy. This location also has the advantage of allowing our facility to help stabilize the power grid by using excess power from wind and solar energy. The electrolysis plant will require about 7.4 hectares of space, 40% of which will remain unpaved. To compensate for the conversion of the grassland, the community will receive compensation payments for 20 years, which will be earmarked for climate protection measures.
Benefits for the region, support from the region
The facility could significantly reduce CO₂ emissions and help to stabilize the local electrical grid. Additionally, it will benefit from a secure, sustainable water supply without depending on local groundwater or surface water. We are collaborating closely with the state government and the community of Bruck an der Leitha over the initiative, which is regarded as a model project for industrial decarbonization and as contributing to the implementation of Austria’s hydrogen strategy.
Why green hydrogen?
Green hydrogen plays a central role in the decarbonization of energy-intensive industries. However, we do not use it as a fuel, but as a material resource. This means that we use the green hydrogen molecule to produce sustainable fuels, such as for aviation. This reduces dependence on fossil fuels and secures the long-term viability of the Schwechat refinery.
Gudrun Kollmitzer, OMV:
”Green hydrogen is the only option to successfully decarbonize the Schwechat refinery and ensure a sustainable transition. We aim to produce green hydrogen locally in Austria to start generating value from renewable hydrogen in the country.”