Poland’s Orlen Group has secured PLN 1.7 billion (roughly $459 million) in non-repayable funding from the Nationwide Restoration Plan to speed up improvement of its hydrogen manufacturing portfolio.
The funding will assist two strategic initiatives: Hydrogen Eagle, a multi-site venture geared toward producing clear hydrogen through renewable-powered electrolysis and municipal waste processing; and Inexperienced H2, a devoted refinery decarbonization venture in Gdańsk. Each align with Orlen’s goal of deploying roughly 0.9 GW of electrolysis-based hydrogen manufacturing capability by 2035—0.7 GW of which is slated for improvement inside Poland.
Hydrogen Eagle will function a spine for regional hydrogen distribution, specializing in transport and industrial finish makes use of. It combines renewable electrical energy inputs with electrolyzers and waste-to-hydrogen expertise to ship low-emission hydrogen throughout a community of filling stations and industrial hubs. Though detailed deployment timelines and website areas stay undisclosed, the venture is designed to contribute towards Poland’s broader hydrogen valley ideas underneath EU-backed frameworks.
In parallel, the Inexperienced H2 programme facilities on hard-to-abate refining operations. A 100 MW electrolyzer—powered solely by renewable vitality—might be deployed at Orlen’s Gdańsk refinery to supply inexperienced hydrogen for inside use. The trouble is led by Lotos Inexperienced H2, a completely owned Orlen subsidiary established to run hydrogen-specific ventures.
Whereas Orlen has not disclosed the exact commissioning date for both venture, the Gdańsk refinery’s pivot to hydrogen-based course of fuels would characterize one of many first industrial-scale electrolyzer integrations inside Polish refining.
The technological underpinnings of Orlen’s hydrogen roadmap level towards vertical integration. The group is predicted to deploy Hystar PEM electrolyzers, following a strategic fairness funding by Orlen VC into the Norwegian producer. Hystar’s patented cell design, which emphasizes excessive effectivity and modular scalability, gives flexibility in each small- and large-scale configurations.
By backing Hystar, Orlen just isn’t solely de-risking its expertise provide chain but in addition positioning itself to affect the European electrolyser ecosystem, notably at a time when entry to tools stays a limiting issue throughout a number of EU hydrogen initiatives.
Whereas the vast majority of the deliberate 0.9 GW hydrogen manufacturing capability might be constructed inside Poland, Orlen acknowledges that import routes might be wanted to fulfill long-term demand past 2035. Maritime terminals for hydrogen derivatives comparable to ammonia or methanol are underneath analysis. Nevertheless, Poland’s present port infrastructure just isn’t but geared up for large-scale hydrogen imports, making the event of home capability all of the extra pressing within the medium time period.
Poland’s hydrogen technique continues to be nascent in comparison with frontrunners like Germany, the Netherlands, or France, but the Orlen announcement alerts a notable shift. With over 50% of Poland’s hydrogen manufacturing presently gray (derived from pure gasoline), transitioning even a portion of this to renewable sources might materially cut back nationwide emissions—notably from refining, fertilizers, and heavy transport.
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