STRABAG and Siemens Energy have officially started construction on a 140 MW electrolysis plant in Bruck an der Leitha, Lower Austria. Owned and developed by OMV, one of Austria’s largest integrated energy and chemicals companies, the project will be a major step in advancing the country’s hydrogen economy and supporting OMV’s commitment to a lower-carbon future.
The facility is designed to produce up to 23,000 tons of renewable hydrogen per year, which will be supplied directly to OMV’s Schwechat refinery through a newly built 22-kilometre pipeline. By replacing conventional hydrogen produced from natural gas, the project is expected to reduce the refinery’s direct CO₂ emissions by approximately 150,000 tons annually, contributing to OMV’s 2030 decarbonisation strategy.
Once complete in late 2027, the plant will rank among Europe’s largest electrolysis facilities, strengthening Austria’s position in the region’s hydrogen value chain.
OMV's new 140 MW Green Hydrogen Plant in Austria
OMV, headquartered in Vienna, is a leading energy and chemicals company with operations spanning oil, gas, fuels, and petrochemicals. Over recent years, it has increasingly shifted focus toward renewable and low-carbon energy solutions. Hydrogen, in particular, plays a key role in OMV’s strategy to decarbonise its refining and chemical operations.
The new 140 MW facility builds on OMV’s existing hydrogen infrastructure, which currently includes a 10 MW unit. Construction is now underway following the approval of all necessary building and operating permits, with commissioning scheduled for late 2027. Once in operation, the plant will stand among the top five electrolysis facilities in Europe, underlining its importance as a large-scale project in the continent’s energy transition.
Electrolysis – the process of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity – will be at the core of the new facility. When powered by renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower, electrolysis enables the production of “green hydrogen,” a carbon-free fuel that can directly replace fossil-based hydrogen in industrial applications.
Siemens Energy–STRABAG Consortium as EPC Contractor
The project is being delivered under an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract by a consortium of Siemens Energy and STRABAG.
Siemens Energy is responsible for overall technical design and integration of the core process equipment, including electrolysis stacks, transformers, rectifiers, and compressors.
STRABAG will lead civil engineering and structural works, ensuring the project is executed to schedule and supported by robust infrastructure.
This EPC structure provides OMV with a single point of accountability, reducing project interface risks and ensuring seamless coordination across mechanical, electrical, and civil disciplines. Such an approach is particularly valuable for complex energy transition projects that require precision and reliability across multiple engineering domains.
Funding and Strategic Significance
The European Hydrogen Bank has already issued a positive evaluation for the project, with financial support expected to be finalised by late 2025 through Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (aws).
Strategically, the plant represents a decisive step in scaling up green hydrogen production for industrial use. Its dedicated 22-kilometre hydrogen pipeline to the Schwechat refinery will allow for direct substitution of carbon-intensive hydrogen inputs, cutting refinery emissions by around 10%.
Beyond immediate carbon savings, the project reflects OMV’s long-term commitment to energy transformation while contributing to the EU’s ambition of building a resilient and competitive hydrogen economy.
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