OMV has received €123 million in state-backed funding to build one of Europe’s largest green hydrogen plants in Bruck an der Leitha, Lower Austria. The project, supported by Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (aws) and positively assessed by the European Hydrogen Bank, marks a major step in Austria’s hydrogen strategy and OMV’s 2030 sustainability goals.
The 140 MW facility, scheduled to start operations by late 2027, will produce up to 23,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually using renewable energy sources including wind, solar and hydropower. This output is expected to cut carbon emissions by as much as 150,000 tonnes per year, significantly aiding the decarbonisation of OMV’s Schwechat refinery via a dedicated 22-kilometre pipeline.
OMV CEO Alfred Stern described the funding as “a strong signal for the future of sustainable energy supply and Austria as a location,” adding that the project sets “a milestone for the energy transition in Europe.”
The company plans to invest several hundred million euros in the venture, which will rank among the five largest hydrogen plants in Europe. In parallel, OMV is advancing a joint venture with Masdar, a global clean energy leader, to finance, construct and operate the electrolyser facility. The JV is expected to be finalised in early 2026, pending shareholder and regulatory approvals.
Austria’s commitment to green hydrogen underscores its ambition to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and accelerate the shift to renewable energy across the continent.
