Austria’s OMV will proceed with development of its planned 140-MW green hydrogen project in Bruck an der Leitha after Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, known as Masdar, withdrew from the project’s proposed equity structure.
OMV said the two companies had mutually agreed not to proceed with Masdar’s planned participation, which had been agreed in November 2025. Masdar had been expected to take a 49% stake in the project vehicle responsible for financing, constructing and operating the facility.
The Austrian energy company said Masdar’s withdrawal would not change the project’s planned scope or timeline.
Masdar Withdraws From Planned 49% Stake
Masdar’s proposed involvement was structured around a joint venture that would have financed, built and operated the green hydrogen facility alongside OMV.
OMV said the companies remain committed to their broader partnership and are continuing to explore potential opportunities for future collaboration. The company also said there were no issues between the two parties.
With Masdar no longer proceeding with its equity participation, OMV is set to continue the project without the previously announced strategic investment from the UAE-based renewable energy company.
140-MW Electrolyser Being Installed in Austria
The electrolyser is currently being installed at Bruck an der Leitha in Lower Austria. Once completed, the facility is designed to produce up to 23,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year using renewable electricity generated from wind, solar and hydropower.
The 140-MW installation is intended to rank among Europe’s five largest green hydrogen projects by electrolyser capacity, according to the project description.
The scale of the project places it within Europe’s emerging industrial hydrogen infrastructure, where large electrolysers are being developed to supply renewable hydrogen for industrial and energy applications.
Financing Remains in Place
The project has secured significant financing commitments despite the change in its ownership structure.
Austria’s federal development bank Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (aws) recently provided a €123 million debt facility for the project. The European Investment Bank is providing a further €450 million loan.
The continued availability of this financing is important to the project’s development following Masdar’s decision to withdraw from the planned equity arrangement.
OMV has indicated that the change in project ownership will not affect the previously announced development schedule.
Commissioning Target Remains End-2027
The project remains scheduled for commissioning by the end of 2027. The facility is expected to draw on renewable electricity from multiple sources, including wind, solar and hydropower, to operate its electrolyser.
The planned production capacity of up to 23,000 tonnes of hydrogen annually represents a substantial addition to Austria’s emerging renewable hydrogen infrastructure. The project therefore remains on its previously announced trajectory despite the departure of its prospective strategic equity partner.
Green Hydrogen Development Continues Despite Ownership Change
The change highlights the distinction between project financing and strategic equity participation in large-scale hydrogen developments. While Masdar’s proposed 49% ownership was part of the project’s original structure, OMV says the project can continue with its existing financing arrangements and timetable.
For the European hydrogen market, the project’s next major milestones will be the completion of electrolyser installation, commissioning and the transition to commercial hydrogen production.
Bioenergy Business Analysis
The Masdar withdrawal changes the ownership structure of a major Austrian green hydrogen project but, based on OMV’s statement, does not currently alter its planned capacity, financing or commissioning schedule. The combination of a 140-MW electrolyser with €573 million in identified debt financing from aws and the EIB provides the project with a substantial financial base as construction progresses.
The more significant test will now be execution: completing the electrolyser installation and bringing the facility into operation by the end of 2027. The project’s ability to use renewable electricity from wind, solar and hydropower also reflects the importance of securing renewable power supply alongside electrolyser capacity as Europe’s large-scale hydrogen pipeline moves towards commissioning.
