Siemens Energy will supply the electrolysis technology, lead the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) consortium, and contribute its plant construction expertise, while Strabag will handle all civil works.

The German technology company will oversee technical planning and supply key components, including electrolysis stacks, transformers, rectifiers, and compressors to produce hydrogen from renewable power for the project.

However, when OMV announced the final investment decision (FID) in May, it stressed that the project remained conditional on subsidies.

The company has since advanced the process and is now finalising a funding agreement with Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (aws), the national body handling the EHB programme, with a contract expected by year-end.

Nevertheless, the project still hinges on the conclusion of this funding approval.

The electrolysis plant itself is scheduled to produce up to 23,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually to supply OMV’s Schwechat refinery, cutting CO2 emissions by around 150,000 tonnes.

As part of its mid-triple-digit million-euro investment, OMV will build a 22km hydrogen pipeline linking the electrolysis plant to the refinery, for which it has already secured operating and building permits.

The 140MW plant remains on track to begin operations at the end of 2027, subject to the final funding approval.

“As consortium leader, we are pleased to be working with OMV and Strabag to build one of Europe’s largest electrolysis plants,” said Siemens Energy’s Juha Pankakoski.

“Our technology enables the efficient and scalable production of green hydrogen as an important energy source of the future. Projects like this provide important impetus for the development of the hydrogen market.”

The project also builds on OMV’s growing portfolio. The company already operates a 10MW electrolyser in Austria at its Schwechat refinery, which will inform the 140MW plant’s design and operation.