OMV starts large project: 140 MW electrolysis work for green hydrogen!

OMV starts large project: 140 MW electrolysis work for green hydrogen!

Bruck an der Leitha, Österreich - The OMV, a leading Austrian energy company, has now announced the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the construction of a 140 MW electrolysis work for the production of green hydrogen in Bruck an der Leitha, Lower Austria. However, this decision is made dependent on public financing. The announcement took place as part of the event "From Innovation to Impact: Forward for Good", in which Alfred Stern, Chairman and CEO from OMV, as well as Martijn van Koten, Executive Vice President Fuels & Feedstock and Chemicals take part. The company plans to invest a medium -high three -digit million sum in the project.

The new electrolysis plant, which is to be put into operation by the end of 2027, will have an annual production capacity of up to 23,000 tons of green hydrogen. This system is one of the largest of its kind in Europe and will also cover a significant part of the hydrogen requirement of the OMV refinery in Schwechat. The hydrogen is to be produced exclusively from renewable energies that come from wind, solar and hydropower plants. The successful tender by the European and Austrian Hydrogen Bank is particularly important, the result of which is crucial for the further course of the project.

EU funding for hydrogen projects

For the expansion of hydrogen production in Europe, the European Commission has announced that it will provide 992 million euros for 15 selected projects for the production of green hydrogen. These projects, which are distributed to several countries within the European economic area, are to produce almost 2.2 million tons of renewable hydrogen in the next ten years and avoid over 15 million tons of CO2 emissions. These are important progress in the context of the goals of the EU that wants to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.

It should be emphasized that Spain, Lithuania and Austria will provide a total of up to 836 million euros in national funding for hydrogen projects. In this context, the funded projects benefit from grants that cover the production costs of the hydrogen and offer an incentive to replace fossil fuels in industries and transport sectors that are difficult to decorate.

guidelines and definitions for renewable hydrogen

The EU has also introduced new regulations on the definition of renewable hydrogen, which should create the basis for this technology to be used efficiently. In particular, a certification system should reduce the dependence of the EU on fossil fuels and increase transparency in the market. Energy commissioner Kadri Simson emphasizes that clear regulations are necessary to increase the amount of available renewable electricity and to promote the decarbonization of the industry. The transition to a market for renewable hydrogen is a central point of the EU's hydrogen strategy, which aims to produce 10 million tons of green hydrogen by 2030.

The OMV project in Bruck an der Leitha is therefore part of a larger European project that targets innovative technologies for sustainable hydrogen production. The future of hydrogen production in Austria and Europe is therefore a central element of the strategies for reducing CO2 emissions and promoting renewable energies.

More information about the developments in this area can be found here: Hydronews , Repubblica and EU Commission .