Communicator

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.

#omv  #schwechat  #refinery  #hydrogen  #greenhydrogen  #sustainability  #electrolyzer  #greyhydrogen  #hydroprocessing  #austria  #pemelectrolyzer 

Production capacities of the two PP Plants and technology of PP6 (Borstar PP) have been added.


#borealis  #omv  #burghausen  #germany  #borstar 

In particular, steam cracker technology and olefins capacities have been added and a complete flow diagram of the Schwechat refinery is provided.

#omv #schwechat  #refinery  #austria 

Vienna, Austria / Abu Dhabi, UAE — March 4, 2025

In a landmark move reshaping the global petrochemicals industry, Austria’s OMV and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) have unveiled plans to merge their chemical subsidiaries, Borouge and Borealis, into a new entity named Borouge Group International. This new company will then acquire Nova Chemicals, a leading North American polyethylene producer, for $13.4 billion, including debt. The combined enterprise, valued at over $60 billion, is poised to become one of the world’s largest polyolefins producers, with a production capacity of approximately 13.6 million tons per year. The transaction, expected to close in the first quarter of 2026 pending regulatory approvals, underscores both companies’ ambitions to expand their global chemicals footprint.

The deal involves two key steps.
First, OMV, which owns 75% of Borealis, and ADNOC, holding 54% of Borouge, will consolidate their shareholdings into Borouge Group International. Each company will own approximately 46.94% of the new entity, with the remaining 6.12% offered as free-float shares to Borouge’s existing shareholders. To balance the ownership, OMV will contribute €1.6 billion (about $1.7 billion) in cash, subject to adjustments based on dividends paid before the deal closes.
Second, Borouge Group International will acquire Nova Chemicals from Mubadala Investment Company, an Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, for an enterprise value of $13.4 billion. The equity value of the deal is reported at $9.377 billion, with the remainder comprising assumed debt. Nova Chemicals, based in Canada, operates four production sites in the Sarnia area, boasting a capacity of 2.6 million tons of polyethylene and 4.2 million tons of ethylene annually. The resulting company will combine Borouge’s dominance in the Middle East and Asia, Borealis’ leadership in Europe, and Nova Chemicals’ strong foothold in North America, creating a truly global player in the polyolefins market.

The formation of Borouge Group International and its acquisition of Nova Chemicals promise to reshape the industry. The merger unites Borouge’s access to competitive feedstock from ADNOC, Borealis’ European market expertise, and Nova Chemicals’ North American operations, bolstered by shale gas-based resources. This geographical diversity strengthens the company’s ability to serve customers worldwide. With an estimated $500 million in annual cost synergies, the new entity will optimize production, share cutting-edge technologies, and leverage combined market access. The company aims to rank as the fourth-largest polyolefins producer globally, enhancing its competitiveness. Sustainability is also a key focus, with all three companies—Borouge, Borealis, and Nova Chemicals—bringing expertise in recycling technologies and sustainable products. Borouge Group International is positioned to lead in the circular economy, targeting net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050.

Borouge Group International will be headquartered in Vienna, Austria, with a regional base in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and additional hubs in Calgary, Pittsburgh, and Singapore. The company will be listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), with potential plans for a secondary listing in Vienna. Existing Borouge shareholders will exchange their shares for stakes in the new entity, with promises of dividend growth. The acquisition of Nova Chemicals will be funded through debt, which the company plans to refinance in the capital markets post-closing, reflecting confidence in its long-term financial stability backed by ADNOC and OMV.

#abudhabi  #omv  #novachemicals  #borouge  #borealis  #merger  #ethylene  #polyethylene  #recycling  #sustainability  #circulareconomy #netzero #shalegas  #mubadala