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ORLEN Group Secures PLN 1.7 Billion in Non-Repayable Funding from Poland’s Recovery Plan for Strategic Hydrogen Projects

COMPANIESORLEN Group Secures PLN 1.7 Billion in Non-Repayable Funding from Poland’s Recovery Plan for Strategic Hydrogen Projects

ORLEN Group has received a record PLN 1.7 billion in non-repayable funding from the National Recovery Plan (KPO) to implement two strategic hydrogen initiatives: Hydrogen Eagle and Green H2. The funding will be used to accelerate the development of renewable and low-emission hydrogen technologies—a cornerstone of Poland’s and Europe’s energy transition.


Hydrogen: The Fuel of the Future at the Heart of ORLEN’s Strategy

The energy of tomorrow starts today,” emphasized Ireneusz Fąfara, CEO of ORLEN, underlining the critical role hydrogen will play in shaping the future of Poland’s energy system.
“This is not just a slogan—it’s a firm commitment,” he added.

Nearly PLN 2 billion from the KPO will significantly boost hydrogen production infrastructure and strengthen Poland’s position as a leader in this field. ORLEN’s 2035 strategy puts renewable and low-emission hydrogen at the core of its operations. The group plans to deploy 0.9 GW of electrolysis capacity, including 0.7 GW in Poland, supported by imports of hydrogen or its derivatives via maritime routes.


Hydrogen Eagle: Hydrogen from Renewables and Waste

The Hydrogen Eagle project aims to establish a diversified network for hydrogen production by:

  • Generating hydrogen from renewable energy sources (RES)
  • Converting municipal waste into hydrogen (waste-to-hydrogen technology)

The project will contribute to decarbonizing the economy, expanding Europe’s hydrogen infrastructure, and reducing CO₂ emissions across multiple sectors.


Green H2: Green Hydrogen for the Gdańsk Refinery

The Green H2 project is being carried out by LOTOS Green H2, a special-purpose entity within ORLEN Group, based in Gdańsk. The investment includes:

  • A 100 MW electrolyzer
  • An energy storage system
  • Infrastructure to integrate green hydrogen into refinery processes

The goal is to replace fossil-based hydrogen with a renewable alternative, drastically cutting the carbon footprint of fuel production.


Technological Backing and Innovation Partnerships

Supporting these efforts, ORLEN VC—the Group’s venture capital arm—has invested in Norwegian firm Hystar, a producer of advanced PEM electrolyzers. This partnership ensures access to cutting-edge zero-emission hydrogen technology.


KPO Funding: A Path Toward a Low-Carbon Economy

The grants for Hydrogen Eagle and Green H2 were awarded under Submeasure B2.1.1: Investments in Hydrogen Technologies, part of the third call for proposals within the National Recovery Plan (KPO). The program is managed by Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK), and aims to enhance resilience and competitiveness in the post-pandemic Polish economy through green innovation.

Source:
managerplus.pl – ORLEN Receives Record Hydrogen Investment Support: PLN 1.7 Billion from KPO for Green H2 and Hydrogen Eagle Programs

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