PKN Orlen is starting the Hydrogen Eagle investment program to build six new hydrogen hubs, including three in Poland, two in the Czech Republic and one in Slovakia. The project also plans to build more than 100 refueling stations for individual, public and cargo transport, the company said.
The implementation of the program, covering Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, will allow the Orlen Group to achieve hydrogen production capacity of approx. 50 thousand tonnes by 2030. The program provides for the construction of six new hydrogen hubs, including three in Poland, two in the Czech Republic and one in Slovakia powered by renewable energy sources, including the construction of an electrolysis installation to which electricity will be supplied using the Baltic Power offshore wind farm power. In total, the capacity of electrolysis installations powered by renewable energy sources will be approx. 250 MW. The program will also cover three innovative installations for converting municipal waste into low-emission hydrogen, located in Płock, Ostrołęka and the Czech Republic, as well as an international network of over 100 hydrogen refueling stations, underlined.
“Thanks to bold, innovative investments in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the Orlen Group has a chance to become the Central European leader in hydrogen fuels. We are aware that this is extremely important from both a business and environmental point of view. Entering the area of sustainable hydrogen production in the next decades will provide us with competitive advantages in the retail, refining and energy areas. Moreover, it will allow for a significant reduction of the carbon footprint and will be an important step towards achieving carbon neutrality in 2050, ”said President Daniel Obajtek, quoted in the release.
Electrolysis installations producing zero-emission hydrogen will be powered by offshore and onshore wind energy and photovoltaics. 54 hydrogen refueling stations for individual, public and freight transport will be built in Poland, 22 facilities will be built in the Czech Republic and 26 in Slovakia, also replaced.
Hydrogen Eagle is the next stage of investment in low-emission hydrogen transport at the Orlen Group. In Germany, pilot hydrogen refueling points are in operation at the group’s stations in Wolfsburg and Müllheim. Automotive-quality hydrogen production installations are being built in Włocławek, Trzebinia and Płock, with a target total production capacity of over 1000 kg per hour. The hubs will supply hydrogen to stations for individual and public transport. The company has launched tender procedures for the construction of the first Polish hydrogen refueling stations located in Poznań and Katowice. There are also plans to build six stations in the Czech Republic.