The newly opened ten-MW plant (dark grey containers) in Schwechat produces between five and ten percent of the hydrogen required annually by the OMV Schwechat refinery for its operations.
OMV has successfully started up its landmark 10 megawatt (MW) polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzer at the Schwechat refinery near Vienna, marking the largest operational green hydrogen production facility in Austria and a significant step forward in the country’s energy transition. The project, known as UpHy II, is the result of years of collaboration, planning, and investment, and stands as a blueprint for industrial-scale green hydrogen integration in refining.
Project Location and Startup
The electrolyzer is located within OMV’s Schwechat refinery, Austria’s largest petroleum processing facility, strategically positioned to directly supply hydrogen to existing refinery operations. The plant began commercial operation in late 2024, with official announcements and public showcases taking place in spring 2025. Its startup represents not only a technical milestone but also a pioneering achievement in regulatory compliance, as it is among the first green hydrogen projects in Europe to achieve certification under the EU’s Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) standards.
Capacity and Production
With a total capacity of 10 MW, the electrolyzer can produce up to 1,500 metric tons of green hydrogen annually—equivalent to about 2,000 Nm³ of hydrogen per hour. This output is sufficient to supply 5–10% of the both the Schwechat refinery’s total hydrogen needs (estimated at 15,000–30,000 tons/year), displacing fossil-based hydrogen in refining processes such as hydrodesulfurization. The remaining hydrogen is channeled into mobility applications, such as fueling hydrogen buses and trucks. The hydrogen produced is of high purity (≥99.999%), meeting the strict requirements for both refinery use and mobility (ISO 14687-2 and EN 17124).
Feb 16, 2022 -- UpHy I + II – Upscaling of green hydrogen for mobility and industry, WIVA P&G, Youtube.
Technology and Selectivity
The electrolyzer uses state-of-the-art PEM technology, chosen for its efficiency, flexibility, and ability to respond quickly to fluctuations in renewable power supply. The system consists of four 2.5 MW PEM electrolyzer containers, each capable of producing 500 Nm³/h of hydrogen. Operating at temperatures between 50 and 80°C, the system achieves high system efficiency, ranging from 75% (start of run) to 68% (end of run) at full load. The hydrogen is delivered at 30 bar, reducing the need for additional compression before use in the refinery.
The selectivity of the PEM process ensures that only hydrogen and oxygen are produced, with minimal impurities, making the output suitable for both chemical processes and mobility applications. The facility also includes advanced purification and measurement technologies developed in partnership with HyCentA Research GmbH and V&F Analyse- und Messtechnik GmbH, ensuring compliance with stringent quality standards.
UpHy I + II - Upscaling of green hydrogen for mobility and industry.
Integration in Refining and Mobility
The green hydrogen produced at Schwechat is used to replace fossil-based (“grey”) hydrogen in the Schwechat refinery’s hydroprocessing units, which are essential for producing cleaner fuels and chemicals. This substitution reduces the refinery’s annual CO₂ emissions by up to 15,000 metric tons, equivalent to the carbon footprint of 2,000 people. Additionally, part of the hydrogen is made available for mobility, supporting the operation of hydrogen-powered buses and trucks, with dedicated logistics and filling infrastructure developed as part of the UpHy project.
Future Prospects
The successful operation of the 10 MW electrolyzer serves as a foundation for OMV’s ambitious plans to scale up green hydrogen production. The company has already announced a much larger project: a 140 MW electrolyzer to be built southeast of Vienna, with a target production capacity of 23,000 tons of green hydrogen per year—one of the largest such facilities planned in Europe. These projects are part of OMV’s broader strategy to become a leader in sustainable fuels, chemicals, and materials, and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
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