• State-backed EUR 123 million ($133 Million) production support for a 140 MW electrolyser
• Annual output of up to 23,000 tons of green hydrogen to cut as much as 150,000 tons of carbon emissions
• Strategic asset for Schwechat refinery decarbonisation and Austria’s hydrogen strategy
Austria has signed off on major production funding for what could become one of the largest green hydrogen plants in Europe, advancing plans to decarbonize heavy industry and secure domestic low carbon fuels. The facility is being developed by OMV at Bruck an der Leitha in Lower Austria and is slated to begin operations at the end of 2027.
The agreement grants up to EUR 123 million in support through Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH following a positive assessment by the European Hydrogen Bank. The approval slots the project into an emerging pipeline of electrolyser assets that European governments see as core to net zero industrial competitiveness.
Strategic Support for Industrial Decarbonization
The plant will deploy 140 MW of electrolysis capacity and produce as much as 23,000 tons of green hydrogen a year from wind, solar, and hydropower. The output will be moved through a 22 kilometer pipeline directly into OMV’s Schwechat refinery, where it will displace fossil based hydrogen and cut up to 150,000 tons of carbon emissions annually.
Alfred Stern, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of OMV, framed the backing as validation from both Brussels and Vienna. Stern said: “The positive assessment made by the European Hydrogen Bank and the resulting funding from the Austrian state for our green hydrogen plant is a strong signal for the future of sustainable energy supply and Austria as a location. With our project, we are setting a milestone for the energy transition in Europe and showing how OMV combines innovation and responsibility.”
For Austria, the investment supports national hydrogen strategy priorities to accelerate electrolyser deployment, reduce industrial emissions, and establish new infrastructure that can later serve additional off takers. For the European Union, it contributes to regional decarbonisation targets for refineries and chemicals, two of the hardest sectors to electrify.
Financing and Industrial Partnerships
OMV plans to invest a sum in the mid hundreds of millions of euros to build the plant. The facility is expected to rank among the five largest green hydrogen projects in Europe once operational. The production funding agreement does not cover capital expenditure, but instead helps bridge the cost gap between fossil and renewable hydrogen once the plant is running.
The company is also advancing a cross border partnership to manage construction and operations. In November 2025, OMV and Masdar signed an agreement to establish a joint venture covering the financing, construction, and operation of the electrolyser. The joint venture is expected to close in early 2026 subject to shareholder approval and regulatory clearance.
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Martijn van Koten, OMV Executive Vice President for Fuels and Chemicals, underscored the strategic purpose of the plant for the company’s refining operations. Van Koten said: “By generating green hydrogen locally, this plant with a 22 kilometer pipeline running directly to the OMV refinery in Schwechat will make a considerable contribution to our decarbonization.”
Why the Project Matters for Executives and Investors
Refining remains a critical pillar of European industrial value chains, yet faces mounting compliance costs from carbon pricing and product regulation. Green hydrogen presents one of the few scalable decarbonisation levers for hydrogen intensive processes. In parallel, EU climate policy is tightening through the Emissions Trading System, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, and fuel standards that increase the value of low carbon molecules.
For investors, the project reflects the evolving economics of green hydrogen in Europe. Direct production support, coupled with dedicated offtake and clear regulatory signals, reduces risk for electrolyser developers. The involvement of Masdar also highlights a growing pattern of Gulf capital seeking exposure to European hydrogen infrastructure and low carbon supply chains.
Regional and Global Significance
If delivered on time, Bruck an der Leitha could serve as a demonstration of how industrial scale hydrogen can integrate with refineries and displace fossil inputs without disrupting fuel markets. It also shows the European Hydrogen Bank steering public finance toward assets with defined offtake and cross border partnership potential.
Europe’s broader transition hinges on whether heavy industry can secure cost competitive green molecules at scale. The OMV project will test that proposition and shape how member states design future production support mechanisms. The outcome will be watched by refiners, chemical firms, and policymakers across the EU and beyond.
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