Romania’s OMV Petrom to Build 7 MW OMV Petrom solar park at Petrobrazi Refinery
In a significant move towards integrating renewable energy into its industrial operations, OMV Petrom, the largest integrated energy producer in Southeastern Europe, has announced plans to construct a 7-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic park at its Petrobrazi refinery. This project is a key step in the company’s strategy to decarbonize its activities and reduce its carbon footprint.
The new solar park is designed to supply green electricity directly for the refinery’s on-site consumption, marking a tangible commitment to sustainable energy practices within a traditionally carbon-intensive industry.
Project Details and Scope of the OMV Petrom solar park
The development represents a substantial investment in renewable infrastructure. The solar park will be built within the refinery’s perimeter, covering an expansive area of approximately 110,000 square meters.
Key details of the project include:
* Capacity: The photovoltaic park will have an installed capacity of approximately 7 MW.
* Investment: The total budget for the project is up to RON 45.4 million (around €9 million), with a significant portion—RON 8.4 million—being co-financed by the European Union’s Modernization Fund.
* Integration: The facility will be fully integrated into the Petrobrazi refinery’s internal electrical grid, ensuring a seamless supply of renewable power to its operations.
* Timeline: With the construction contract awarded, work is expected to begin shortly and reach completion during 2026. OMV Petrom will operate the facility once it is commissioned.
A Strategic Step Towards Decarbonization with OMV Petrom solar park
This initiative is a core component of OMV Petrom’s broader strategy to achieve net-zero operations by 2050. By generating clean energy on-site, the company can directly power its facilities while lowering its reliance on the national grid and reducing associated emissions.
Franck Neel, a member of the OMV Petrom Executive Board responsible for Gas and Power, emphasized the project’s dual benefits. “Adding photovoltaic capacity at the refinery enables us to meet part of our power demand through renewable energy,” he stated. “It is a consistent gradual progress that supports both operational performance and our environmental objectives.”
The solar park is not an isolated effort. It complements other major sustainable projects underway at the Petrobrazi site, including the construction of a state-of-the-art unit for producing sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). Furthermore, the company is developing two green hydrogen production units that will also utilize renewable power, creating a synergistic ecosystem of green energy at the refinery.
This move by OMV Petrom highlights a growing trend among major energy companies to invest in renewable solutions to power their own operations, demonstrating a practical path toward a more sustainable industrial future in Romania and across the region.
