The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted a €450 million loan to OMV to fund a 140-MW green hydrogen production plant in Bruck an der Leitha, Lower Austria. The facility, part of a €600 million total investment, aims to produce 23,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually by late 2027 to decarbonize the Schwechat refinery.
OMV Green Hydrogen Plant to Cut Schwechat Refinery Emissions
OMV is constructing a 140-MW green hydrogen facility in Bruck an der Leitha to replace fossil-fuel-based hydrogen at its Schwechat refinery. According to OMV, the plant will use renewable energy to produce up to 23,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year. This shift is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 150,000 tonnes, which OMV calculates as roughly 10% of the refinery’s current direct emissions.
Reinhard Florey, Deputy CEO and CFO of OMV, stated that the EIB’s loan signals confidence in the company’s transformation strategy and its ability to execute large-scale industrial decarbonization projects. The project is scheduled to begin operations by the end of 2027.
EIB Funding and EU Energy Security Goals
The €450 million loan from the EIB supports the broader European Union goal of transitioning to a climate-neutral energy system. Karl Nehammer, EIB Vice President, noted that scaling industrial green hydrogen production increases Europe’s competitiveness and strengthens energy security by reducing reliance on fossil raw materials.
Nehammer further indicated that this investment provides a foundation for the future production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), aligning with the EU’s climate and energy security targets.
OMV Strategy 2030: Expanding Sustainable Feedstocks
The Bruck an der Leitha plant is a central pillar of OMV’s Strategy 2030, which targets a production capacity of approximately 900,000 tonnes of renewable fuels and sustainable chemical feedstocks by 2030. The company aims for net-zero emissions by 2050.
OMV’s current and planned sustainable infrastructure includes:
- Existing Assets: A 10-MW green hydrogen plant and a co-processing facility at the Schwechat refinery.
- Romania Projects: Two green hydrogen projects with capacities of 20 MW and 35 MW, operated by OMV Petrom.
- Aviation Fuel: A facility for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) at the Petrobrazi refinery.
Project Specifications and Financial Summary
The following table outlines the key technical and financial details of the Bruck an der Leitha project based on official OMV and EIB data:
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Total Investment | €600 Million |
| EIB Loan Amount | €450 Million |
| Plant Capacity | 140 MW |
| Annual Output | Up to 23,000 tonnes of green hydrogen |
| Expected Operational Date | End of 2027 |
| Estimated CO2 Reduction | ~150,000 tonnes per year |
As OMV continues its transition, the company reported 2025 revenues of €24 billion, employing approximately 22,300 people globally. The firm maintains significant strategic holdings, including a 51.2% stake in OMV Petrom and a 50% stake in Borouge International.
Related reading