(Vienna, Austria) - The Austrian oil and gas group OMV AG and Kommunalkredit Austria AG, which specializes in infrastructure and energy financing, want to jointly build the largest electrolysis plant in Austria at the OMV refinery in Schwechat. The investment amount is around 25 million euros and half is being borne by OMV and Kommunalkredit. The system will be commissioned in the second half of 2023.
1.500 tons of hydrogen per year
The “Polymer Electrolyte Membrane” electrolysis (PEM) with ten megawatts of power is expected to produce up to 1.500 tons of green hydrogen annually. According to the companies, this will replace gray hydrogen in the hydrogenation of bio-based and fossil fuels in the refinery. This enables an annual CO2 reduction of up to 15.000 tons. According to OMV calculations, more than 17 million bus or truck kilometers could be covered annually using green hydrogen. The project is supported by the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund and is part of the WIVA P&G – hydrogen initiative flagship region Austria Power & Gas.
The origin of the green electricity is still unclear
When asked by our editorial team, the company explained that the type of electricity generation from renewable energies to produce green hydrogen was still open. They expect “a mix of photovoltaics, wind and possibly hydropower”.
In December last year, OMV and the electricity supplier VERBUND jointly commissioned “the largest domestic open-field photovoltaic system” with an output of 11,4 megawatts in Schönkirchen, Lower Austria. In the first expansion stage, 34.600 modules in an east-west orientation generate 10,96 gigawatt hours. In the next expansion stage, the system will be expanded to include 2021 modules by the end of 10.400. The total output thus increases to 14,85 megawatts, and the cumulative yield is forecast to be 14,25 gigawatt hours.
With group sales of 17 billion euros and 26.000 employees in 2020, OMV says it is one of the largest listed industrial companies in Austria. OMV has three refineries in Europe and holds stakes in the Arab companies ADNOC Refining and ADNOC Global Trading. The company operates around 2.100 gas stations in ten European countries and has gas storage facilities in Austria and Germany. Through its subsidiary Borealis, OMV is also active in the chemical sector, particularly in the areas of basic chemicals, plant nutrients and mechanical recycling of plastics.
deep link
https://www.omv.at/de-at/news/210215-omv-und-kommunalkredit-investieren-in-die-produktion-von-gr-nem-wasserstoff
Photos
OMV refinery Schwechat / © OMV Aktiengesellschaft
