New Energy World™
New Energy World™ embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low-carbon technologies.
The cause of hydrogen advances in Europe with new Austrian electrolyser and EC market push
19/11/2025
News
Europe’s hydrogen ambitions are gathering pace with OMV and Masdar joining forces to build one of the continent’s largest green hydrogen plants in Austria. Meanwhile, the European Commission (EC) has launched its first Hydrogen Mechanism call to connect buyers and sellers. Elsewhere, methane splitting is emerging as a complementary route to the production of low-carbon hydrogen.
OMV and Masdar join forces on 140 MW green hydrogen plant
Austrian energy and chemicals major OMV and Abu Dhabi-based global renewable energy company Masdar have signed a binding agreement to establish a joint venture for a 140 MW green hydrogen electrolyser in Austria. Located in Bruck an der Leith, some 40 km south-east of Vienna, the plant is currently under construction and is due to be commissioned by 2027. It will be one of the largest projects of its kind in Europe.
The 51:49 joint venture cements a strategic collaboration between the two companies to develop green hydrogen and explore future opportunities in synthetic sustainable aviation fuels (e-SAF) and synthetic chemicals.
Alfred Stern, CEO of OMV, positioned the green hydrogen project as central to the company’s strategy to decarbonise its fuels and chemicals production by 2030, saying it would be ‘a cornerstone in transforming our operations and accelerating Europe’s energy transition’. The company currently operates a 10 MW electrolyser at its Schwechat refinery, near Vienna.
EC launches first call for interest to connect hydrogen buyers and suppliers
In a complementary policy development, the European Commission (EC) has launched the first call for interest under its Hydrogen Mechanism. The scheme acts as a digital matchmaking platform connecting suppliers and buyers of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen and its derivatives, including ammonia, methanol, certain aviation fuels (eSAF) and eMethane.
The EC says the mechanism will reduce market uncertainty by connecting future demand and supply, increase market transparency, support infrastructure development and facilitate access to funding. It is also expected to ‘encourage cross-sectoral engagement and enable new partnerships across Europe and beyond’.
The first submission phase under the Hydrogen Mechanism opened on 12 November 2025, with suppliers invited to submit offers until 2 January 2026. Anonymised supply data will be published on 19 January 2026, after which off-takers can express their interest until 20 March 2026. The final results of the matchmaking will be released to participants on 31 March 2026.
By connecting early buyers and sellers, the EC hopes to accelerate investment decisions and reduce risk for first-mover projects – critical to reaching the EU’s target of producing 10mn tonnes of renewable hydrogen domestically and importing another 10mn tonnes annually by 2030.
Methane splitting: turning gas into clean hydrogen and high-value carbon
As Europe scales up electrolytic hydrogen, another pathway to the production of low-carbon hydrogen is gaining ground: methane splitting, which transforms natural gas (CH4) into hydrogen and solid carbon, without releasing CO2.
The hydrogen produced can be used as a clean fuel or industrial feedstock, while the carbon – depending on the process – can be refined into graphite and graphene that can be used in batteries, solar cells and other energy transition technologies.
Companies such as Hycamite (Finland) and Levidian (UK) are pioneering methane splitting, according to OMV.
Hycamite has developed a catalytic methane splitting process which produces carbon in a solid form that can be further refined to create battery-grade graphite precursors. CEO Laura Rahikk said that the process could play an important role in reducing Europe’s dependence on imports, particularly from China, and support the development of battery manufacturing in Finland and the EU.
Meanwhile, Levidian’s patented LOOP technology uses microwave plasma to split methane into hydrogen and carbon in the form of graphene at the point of demand. Levidian describes graphene as 200 times stronger than steel, exceptionally light, and an excellent conductor of both heat and electricity. Its wider industrial adoption has historically been constrained by challenges of cost, quality, consistency and scalability, barriers that Levidian says its technology is overcoming. CEO John Hartley also reports that graphene can ‘enhance both anode and cathode performance in EV batteries, enabling up to 30% faster charging and a 27% longer battery life’.
Both firms face the same challenge: scaling from pilot to industrial deployment. It is here that industrial players such as OMV have a crucial role to play, enabling pilot schemes to be tested and integrated into real operating environments, says the company.
Methane splitting technologies can be deployed rapidly and close to existing gas infrastructure, converting methane that might otherwise be vented or flared. The result is a process that not only produces clean hydrogen but also captures carbon in solid, usable form, supporting circularity and energy security, explains OMV.
