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OMV invests in 2nd-generation biofuel production

OMV, the integrated, international oil, gas and chemicals company headquartered in Vienna, plans to build a pilot plant at its Schwechat Refinery which will produce second-generation biofuels from 2023 using a patented process developed inhouse. The plant involves advanced biofuels that are not in competition with foodstuffs. A typical refining process will see the waste-based substance glycerin turned into bio-alcohol, which when added to gasoline reduces its CO2 footprint.

“After more than five years of research, we are now investing in a ‘Glycerin2Propanol’ pilot plant and thereby contribute to the further development of advanced biofuels. The new plant will be part of the existing value chain in the Schwechat Refinery and is an additional building block in OMV’s sustainable business model”, said Thomas Gangl, OMV Chief Downstream Operations Officer.

The plant will use a catalyst, or reaction accelerator, developed inhouse by OMV, to produce propanol (an alcohol) from glycerin. Glycerin is a byproduct or waste product from the production of biodiesel, as well as the manufacture of detergents and soaps, but it is also considered an advanced feedstock under the European Union’s RED II (Renewable Energy Directive). The propanol produced in this way will then be used as a bio-additive for gasoline. Its other applications include as a sustainable feedstock for the chemicals market as a replacement for fossil-based propanol. 

OMV is set to invest around EUR 30 mn. Of this, around EUR 6.9 mn will come from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG). Another source of funding is the COVID-19 premium. The ‘Glycerin2Propanol’ pilot plant will be built at the Schwechat Refinery beside the ReOil® plant so that both units can utilize a single measuring station, exploiting synergic effects through a shared-operator concept. Construction is set to start in the second quarter of 2021. The ‘Glycerin2Propanol’ pilot plant should be operational in 2023.

The capacity of the pilot plant will be 1.25 mn liters of propanol per year. This will lead to a CO2 reduction of around 1,800 metric tons. 1.2 liters of crude glycerin is needed to produce a liter of propanol. Under moderate temperature and pressure, 1 barrel (= 159 liters) of propanol will be produced per hour in an energy-efficient process.

The long-term plan is to commercialize the technology in order to produce around 125 mn liters of propanol per year and reduce CO2 by around 180,000 metric tons.

Background information:

OMV Aktiengesellschaft
OMV produces and markets oil and gas, as well as chemical solutions in a responsible way and develops innovative solutions for a circular economy. With Group sales revenues of EUR 17 bn and a workforce of around 25,000 employees in 2020 (incl. Borealis), OMV is one of Austria’s largest listed industrial companies. In Upstream, OMV has a strong base in Central and Eastern Europe as well as a balanced international portfolio, with Middle East & Africa, the North Sea, Russia and Asia-Pacific as further core regions. Daily average production was 463,000 boe/d in 2020. In Downstream, OMV operates three refineries in Europe and owns a 15% share in ADNOC Refining and ADNOC Global Trading, with a total annual processing capacity of 24.9 mn tons. Furthermore, OMV operates about 2,100 filling stations in ten European countries and runs gas storage facilities in Austria and Germany. In 2020, total natural gas sales volumes amounted to around 164 TWh.
In the chemicals sector, OMV, through its subsidiary Borealis, is one of the world’s leading providers of advanced and circular polyolefin solutions and a European market leader in base chemicals, fertilizers and the mechanical recycling of plastics. Borealis operates in over 120 countries. In 2020, Borealis generated EUR 6.8 billion in sales revenue. The company supplies services and products to customers around the globe through Borealis and two important joint ventures: Borouge (with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, or ADNOC, based in UAE); and Baystar™ (with Total, based in the US).

Sustainability is an integral part of OMV’s corporate strategy. OMV supports the transition to a lower-carbon economy and has set measurable targets for reducing carbon intensity.