Orlen Group has secured a funding boost worth €390m for its hydrogen projects.
Two strategic programmes, Green H2 and Hydrogen Eagle, have received PLN 1.7 billion non-repayable funding under Poland’s National Recovery Plan.
The grant support will be used to produce renewable hydrogen via electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources, as well as low-emission hydrogen derived from municipal waste.
President of the management board and chief executive of Orlen Ireneusz Fąfara said: “The Energy of Tomorrow Starts Today – that is the title of our strategy through 2035.
“For us, it is more than a slogan – it is a firm commitment and a belief we uphold. That is why we are already investing in the development of our hydrogen capabilities.
“The nearly PLN 2 billion secured for the Hydrogen Eagle and Green H2 projects will accelerate progress in the hydrogen segment.
“Funding from the National Recovery Plan will enable us to expand and scale up hydrogen production infrastructure more efficiently, reinforcing both the domestic and European hydrogen supply networks.
“It also supports the advancement of this future-oriented technology, which represents one of the key pathways to decarbonisation.”
Advancing hydrogen technology is a central pillar of Orlen’s strategic agenda. By 2035, the Group aims to expand its electrolysis-based hydrogen production portfolio to a total capacity of approximately 0.9GW, with around 0.7GW to be developed in Poland.
The remaining demand is expected to be met through imports of hydrogen or its derivatives via maritime routes, contingent on the availability of import infrastructure.
Hydrogen Eagle is a capital investment programme aimed at developing diversified sources of renewable and low-emission hydrogen. Production will rely on both renewable energy sources and municipal waste, utilising waste-to-hydrogen technology.
In addition to reinforcing European hydrogen infrastructure, Hydrogen Eagle will contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and advancing the development of renewable energy sources.
Green H2 is a project led by LOTOS Green H2, a special-purpose vehicle within the Orlen Group, focused on producing renewable hydrogen for use in refinery operations at the Gdańsk fuel production site.
The project involves the installation of a 100MW electrolyser integrated with an energy storage system. Recently, the corporate venture capital fund Orlen VC invested in Hystar, a manufacturer of high-efficiency PEM electrolysers for large-scale zero-emission hydrogen production. The investment will provide technological support for the Group’s hydrogen initiatives.