Hydrogen

We are working to advance and optimize the entire energy value chain with sustainable clean hydrogen. OMV is currently developing a first-of-its-kind green hydrogen production system based on a 10 MW electrolysis project at the Schwechat refinery as part of its UpHy project. The electrolysis will be powered by renewable electricity, producing green, zero-carbon hydrogen. The initial plan is to use the green hydrogen in the refinery in Schwechat for the hydration of vegetable oil and fossil fuels, thereby reducing the emitted by up to 15 per year. The second step will be to use the green hydrogen for decarbonizing hard-to-electrify transportation segments like buses and trucks. (For more information on UpHy, see Hydrogen Mobility.)

The activities are part of the H2Accelerate project, where OMV is developing the heavy-duty infrastructure network around the corridors in Europe. H2Accelerate is a joint approach together with four European partners under the framework of the newly launched Hydrogen call (Important Project of Common European Interest).

Hydrogen production (process visualisation)

In conventional hydrocarbon-based hydrogen production, we are looking into ways to prevent CO2 produced in the steam-reforming process from being expelled as emissions. Instead, we aim to capture it and use it as a feedstock for producing methanol. This is then further turned into renewable-based chemicals and fuels.

Another highly promising alternative is splitting natural gas into hydrogen and pure solid carbon with the pyrolysis method. This process does not emit any CO2 and even uses less energy compared to electrolysis with water.

CO2
carbon dioxide
kt
kiloton
TEN-T
Trans-European Transport Network
IPCEI
Important Project of Common European Interest