OMV Petrom expands green-hydrogen production at Petrobrazi with 2nd electrolyzer

Photo: OMV Petrom

OMV Petrom, the largest integrated energy producer in Southeastern Europe, announced Aug. 28 the delivery of all seven modules for its second green-hydrogen electrolyzer, with a capacity of 35 megawatts (MW), at the Petrobrazi refinery in Romania.

Together with the previously announced 20 MW unit, the total installed green-hydrogen production capacity at Petrobrazi now amounts to 55 MW.

“Reaching 55 MW of green-hydrogen production capacity at Petrobrazi is an important step for our refinery,” said Radu Căprău, a member of the executive board responsible for refining and marketing. “Green hydrogen will be used in refinery processes, including for the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), contributing to reducing the emissions of these fuels compared with conventional alternatives. We are also advancing the construction of a 250,000-metric-ton-per-year SAF/HVO facility, which will position OMV Petrom as the first major producer of sustainable fuels in Southeast Europe.”

The second green-hydrogen project consists of seven electrolysis modules of 5 MW each supplied by Neuman & Esser of Germany.

The modules were delivered to Petrobrazi over the past two months and are being integrated into the refinery infrastructure.

Construction works, logistics, component manufacturing and module assembly at Petrobrazi are carried out by Kraftanlagen Romania, in partnership with local suppliers.

The 35 MW project benefits from approximately 29-million euros (USD$33.6 million) in nonreimbursable financing through Romania’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

Once operational, it is estimated to produce approximately 4,700 tons of green hydrogen annually from renewable electricity for the new SAF/HVO unit under construction at Petrobrazi.

The two green-hydrogen projects, with a total installed capacity of 55 MW and estimated annual production of approximately 8,000 tons, will be used in refining processes, including the production of sustainable SAF and HVO fuels, obtained from vegetable oils and waste oils.

These fuels can reduce CO2 emissions by at least 65 percent over their entire lifecycle and are compatible with existing infrastructure.