OMV Petrom has entered the installation phase of a 35 MW renewable hydrogen project at its Petrobrazi refinery. The move forms part of the Romanian producer’s expansion of investment in lower-carbon refining and sustainable fuels. The electrolyser is being installed as part of the refinery’s broader hydrogen and fuel integration plans.
Electrolyser equipment and construction work
The 35 MW electrolyser comprises seven 5 MW modules supplied by Germany’s Neuman & Esser. Equipment for the project was delivered during the past two months. Kraftanlagen Romania is handling construction, logistics, component manufacturing and installation tasks, working alongside Romanian suppliers.
Hydrogen output and planned downstream fuel use
The plant is expected to produce about 4,700 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per year using renewable electricity. OMV Petrom is also separately developing another 20 MW electrolyser at Petrobrazi. Combined, the two projects would provide the refinery with 55 MW of electrolysis capacity and annual renewable hydrogen production of around 8,000 tonnes.
Much of the hydrogen is intended for a new sustainable aviation fuel and hydrotreated vegetable oil plant. That facility is designed to produce around 250,000 tonnes of sustainable fuels annually. The hydrogen-to-fuels linkage connects renewable electricity generation with downstream transport fuel production at the refinery site.
Financing under Romania’s recovery plan
The 35 MW electrolyser has received about €29 million in non-reimbursable financing under Romania’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The investment supports the development of Petrobrazi as an industrial hydrogen hub in southeast Europe. It also reflects how refinery operators are linking renewable electricity procurement, hydrogen production and lower-carbon transport fuels within their projects.
