OMV Petrom Expands Petrobrazi Green Hydrogen Capacity to 55 MW

OMV Petrom has completed the delivery of modules for a second green hydrogen electrolyzer at its Petrobrazi refinery in Romania, increasing the facility’s combined installed electrolyzer capacity to 55 MW. The company announced the milestone on August 28, 2026, as part of its broader investment program aimed at modernizing the refinery and expanding its low-carbon fuel capabilities.

The green hydrogen project was launched in 2024 and is being developed against a backdrop of slower-than-expected hydrogen infrastructure growth across Europe. Despite delays affecting several regional hydrogen projects and pipeline developments, OMV Petrom continues to advance its electrolyzer installations at Petrobrazi.

The two electrolyzers are being supported partly through non-repayable funding awarded under Romania’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), which is backed by the European Union’s recovery facility. OMV Petrom signed the relevant funding agreements with Romania’s Ministry of Energy in February 2024 after a competitive selection process. While public funding contributes to the project, OMV Petrom is financing the remaining investment costs.

German engineering company Neuman & Esser supplied the electrolysis equipment, while Kraftanlagen Romania was responsible for construction, logistics, component manufacturing and on-site module assembly. Local suppliers were also involved in the project. The electrolyzers will produce hydrogen by splitting water through electrolysis using renewable electricity, enabling the resulting hydrogen to qualify as green hydrogen.

A key purpose of the hydrogen production is to support refining operations and the production of lower-carbon fuels at Petrobrazi. The hydrogen will be used particularly for a new facility currently under construction to manufacture sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel, also known as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).

OMV Petrom expects the new sustainable fuel unit to strengthen its position as a major producer of low-carbon fuels in Southeast Europe. The company has highlighted the potential for SAF and HVO to reduce lifecycle carbon emissions while remaining compatible with existing fuel infrastructure.

The electrolyzer project forms part of a wider modernization program at Petrobrazi. Other investments include an aromatics unit, sulfur recovery facilities and an electric vehicle charging network.

However, some uncertainty remains around the project's economics and production estimates. Annual hydrogen output figures remain estimates because the newest electrolyzer was not operational when the announcement was made. In addition, reported investment costs for the hydrogen component have differed across company releases between 2024 and 2026, with no detailed explanation for the variation. Therefore, actual production volumes and final investment figures should be assessed once both electrolyzers are fully operational.

Product and Chemical Commodity Price Impact

The expansion is bullish for green hydrogen and hydrogen-linked sustainable fuel markets because it increases renewable hydrogen supply for refinery operations and SAF/HVO production. In the near term, the additional 55 MW capacity could modestly increase regional hydrogen availability and reduce dependence on fossil-based hydrogen, potentially creating some downward pressure on conventional hydrogen costs where supply competition strengthens. For SAF and renewable diesel, greater access to green hydrogen supports production economics and could improve long-term supply, although feedstock availability and electricity costs remain critical. Chemical commodities tracked by ChemAnalyst, particularly hydrogen and refinery-linked products, may see limited near-term price pressure, while decarbonized fuel demand could strengthen longer-term market fundamentals.