A green hydrogen project by Polish energy company Orlen has won EU backing and €62m in support.
The Clean Cities – Hydrogen mobility in Poland will encompass a green hydrogen plant plus several hydrogen refuelling stations.
The European Commission has unveiled the selection results of the latest call for proposals under the CEF Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility, launched by the European Executive Agency for Climate, Environment, and Infrastructure (CINEA).
A sum of €424m has been disbursed across 42 projects, including Orlen’s, with hydrogen refuelling infrastructure initiatives claiming total grants in excess of E120m.
“Zero-emission public mobility will be especially crucial in large municipalities, which – fortified by funding from the National Environmental Protection and Water Management Fund and EU facilities – are becoming ever more eager to embrace hydrogen-powered vehicles.
“This is why we’re resolute in our mission to spearhead this form of mobility in partnership with local governments across Poland.
“The grant we have just received demonstrates that we’re on the right track, resonating with the blueprint endorsed by EU authorities,” says Grzegorz Jozwiak, Head of the Hydrogen Technology and Synthetic Fuels Office.
The EU funding is to enable the third phase of Orlen’s Clean Cities – Hydrogen mobility in Poland project.
As part of the first two phases, Orlen is deploying hydrogen infrastructure comprised of eight refuelling stations across the country plus an automotive-grade hydrogen production plant based in Wloclawek.
As part of the third phase, Orlen is primed to expand Poland’s hydrogen infrastructure with an additional 16 publicly available refuelling stations located in various parts of the country along the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
In addition, it will establish another automotive-grade hydrogen production plant in Szczecin, relying on the same water electrolysis process powered by renewables.
Orlen’s plan is to build an international network of over 100 hydrogen refuelling stations spanning Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia to serve private, public, cargo, road and rail transport by 2030.
Hydrogen will be delivered through a European chain of hydrogen hubs powered by renewable energy and innovative facilities converting municipal waste into zero- and low-carbon hydrogen.
Orlen aims for total electrolyser capacities are to reach about 1GW by 2030.