Orlen to launch international hydrogen programme

Orlen is launching "Hydrogen Eagle," an investment programme to develop an international chain of hydrogen hubs and to build facilities to convert municipal waste into zero- and low-emission hydrogen.

The project also provides for the construction of more than 100 hydrogen refuelling stations for individual, public and cargo transport.

The scheme, covering Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, will allow Orlen to achieve annual hydrogen production capacity of approximately 50,000 tonnes by 2030.

The programme provides for the construction of six new RES-powered hydrogen hubs: two in Poland, two in the Czech Republic, and one in Slovakia, including plans to build a hydrogen electrolysis plant to which electricity will be supplied from the Baltic Power offshore wind farm.

The scheme also envisages the construction of three innovative plants for converting municipal waste into low-emission hydrogen, to be located in Poland and in the Czech Republic, as well as an international network of more than 100 hydrogen refuelling stations.

“The Orlen Group's bold and innovative projects implemented in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia can make it Central Europe’s leader in hydrogen fuel," said Daniel Obajtek, President of the PKN Orlen Management Board.

"We know that this is extremely important both from the business and environmental perspective. Entering the market of sustainable hydrogen production will give us competitive advantages in the retail, refining and power generation business in the decades to come. It will also allow us to significantly reduce our carbon footprint, marking an important step towards achieving carbon neutrality in 2050."

The electrolysis plants, producing zero-emission hydrogen, will be powered by offshore and onshore wind farms and photovoltaics. 54, 22 and 26 hydrogen refuelling stations for individual, public and cargo transport will be built in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, respectively. 

The Hydrogen Eagle programme will strengthen the European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB) hydrogen infrastructure, whose development is now in progress, and will bolster Europe’s potential in producing zero- and low-carbon hydrogen as well as building a solid supply chain.

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