OMV Petrom has expanded the planned green hydrogen production capacity at its Petrobrazi refinery in Romania to 55 MW following the delivery of all seven modules for a new 35 MW electrolyser. The renewable hydrogen will be integrated into refinery operations, including the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).
The latest installation follows the delivery of a separate 20 MW electrolyser, bringing the two projects at Petrobrazi to a combined capacity of 55 MW. Together, they are expected to produce approximately 8,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year once operational.
The expansion represents an important part of OMV Petrom’s efforts to reduce the carbon intensity of its refining operations and establish production of lower-emission fuels in Southeast Europe.
35 MW electrolyser to produce 4,700 tonnes of green hydrogen
The second hydrogen project consists of seven 5 MW electrolysis modules supplied by German manufacturer Neuman & Esser. The modules were delivered to Petrobrazi over the past two months and are now being integrated into the refinery’s infrastructure.
Once operational, the 35 MW system is expected to produce approximately 4,700 tonnes of green hydrogen annually using renewable electricity.
Construction, logistics, component manufacturing and module assembly at the refinery are being carried out by Kraftanlagen Romania, working alongside local suppliers.
The 35 MW project has also secured approximately €29 million in non-reimbursable funding through Romania’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).
Green hydrogen to support SAF and HVO production
A major destination for the renewable hydrogen will be OMV Petrom’s new SAF and HVO production facility, which is currently under construction at Petrobrazi.
The facility is designed for annual production capacity of 250,000 tonnes and will manufacture sustainable fuels from vegetable oils and waste oils. Green hydrogen will be used as part of the refining processes required to produce these fuels.
“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,” said Radu Căprău, OMV Petrom Executive Board Member responsible for Refining and Marketing.
According to OMV Petrom, the SAF and HVO produced at the refinery can achieve lifecycle CO₂ emissions reductions of at least 65% compared with conventional alternatives, while remaining compatible with existing fuel infrastructure.
Petrobrazi emerging as a green hydrogen production hub
The combined 55 MW of electrolysis capacity gives green hydrogen an increasingly important role within Petrobrazi’s future refining operations.
Rather than being developed as a standalone hydrogen project, the electrolysers are being integrated directly with industrial demand at the refinery. This provides a defined application for the renewable hydrogen while helping reduce the use of more carbon-intensive hydrogen in fuel production.
The projects also demonstrate how green hydrogen can contribute indirectly to decarbonising sectors such as aviation. While hydrogen itself is difficult to use directly in today’s commercial aircraft, it can be incorporated into the production of sustainable aviation fuels that work with existing aviation infrastructure.
With 55 MW of green hydrogen capacity and around 8,000 tonnes of expected annual production, combined with the new 250,000-tonne-per-year SAF/HVO facility, OMV Petrom is building an integrated renewable hydrogen and sustainable fuels production platform at Petrobrazi.