The Austrian energy sector is set to see a paradigm shift in the coming few years, as it is all set to change in a manner that shall forever alter the course of hydrogen in Europe’s map of green hydrogen projects. Two of the biggest players in this industry have just announced an alliance that shall bring to realization what promises to be Europe’s most ambitious green hydrogen project to date, as Austrian energy giant OMV has allied itself with the UAE’s biggest green firm, Masdar.
Joint venture creates Europe’s largest green hydrogen facility
OMV and Masdar have completed a binding joint venture for building and operating a 140MW green hydrogen electrolysis plant in Bruck an der Leitha, in Austria. The plant is set to be one of a kind in Europe, as it is going to be a large green hydrogen production plant to support OMV’s efforts to green its refinery in Schwechat. The plant’s construction is to commence in September 2025, with project startup in 2027.
According to this partnership, OMV would retain majority control, whereas Masdar would possess a 49% stake in this joint venture initiative. This partnership details OMV’s experience in integrated fuel and chemical operations, along with Masdar’s expertise in the development of renewable resources, established across different regions of the world. This partnership also utilizes OMV’s current green hydrogen plant in Schwechat, which has a capacity to produce green hydrogen to the tune of 10MW.
“The UAE always has been, and continues to be, engaged in a partnership to accelerate the global transformation of energy systems. This joint venture leverages the two-decade-long expertise of Masdar in renewable energy as well as the industry expertise of OMV to open doors to potential opportunities in Europe.” – Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology
Investment positions Austria as a European hydrogen hub
The joint venture shows that Austria’s vision is to lead Europe in hydrogen production, which is planned to be achieved via international partnerships. As planned, OMV is set to source this plant’s renewable electricity, which means that OMV shall consume all of this plant’s hydrogen output. The idea is to achieve Maximum Efficiency as well as support Austrian Energy Independence by producing clean fuel domestically.
While this is in relation to a project, this partnership is also significant in that it provides a platform for further cooperation between OMV, Masdar, as well as green hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuel, as well as production in relation to synthetic chemical production in both the UAE as well as Central as well as Northern Europe. The partnership is based on a formal signing of a Letter of Intent in April of 2025.
Key project milestones include
- September 2025: Construction commencement at Bruck an der Leitha
- Early 2026: Joint venture closure pending regulatory approvals
- 2027: Full operational capacity, achieving 140 MW production
- Future expansion: Additional facilities across European markets
Decarbonization strategy transforms European energy landscape
The plant is designed to support OMV’s Strategy 2030 decision to go green as well as help establish a strong stance for Austria in terms of foreign investments. The plant is also counted as one of the biggest foreign investments from Austria, which also supports the stance of the nation to emerge as a significant player in Clean Energy in this region.
The joint project between OMV and Masdar is a pivotal step in the development of Europe’s hydrogen-based economy, offering Austrian industry know-how in conjunction with UAE excellence in green energy solutions. As an initial capacity of 140 MW, this project is set to fuel, in addition to current low-carbon ambition, further development of support infrastructure in Austria, as a result, making Austria Europe’s hydrogen capital.
