The ORLEN Group is launching HYDROGEN EAGLE, an investment program to develop an international chain of hydrogen hubs powered by renewable energy sources and build innovative facilities to convert municipal waste into zero- and low-emission hydrogen.

The scheme, covering Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, will allow  ORLEN Group to achieve annual hydrogen production capacity of approximately 50,000 t by 2030. The program provides for the construction of six new RES-powered hydrogen hubs: two in Poland, two in the Czech Republic, and one in Slovakia, including plans to build a hydrogen electrolysis plant to which electricity will be supplied from the Baltic Power offshore wind farm. The capacity of the RES-powered electrolysis plants will ultimately total approximately 250 MW. The scheme also envisages the construction of three plants for converting municipal waste into low-emission hydrogen, to be located in Płock and Ostrołęka in Poland and in the Czech Republic, as well as an international network of more than 100 hydrogen refueling stations. 

The electrolysis plants, producing zero-emission hydrogen, will be powered by offshore and onshore wind farms and photovoltaics. 54, 22 and 26 hydrogen refueling stations for individual, public and cargo transport will be built in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, respectively.

The HYDROGEN EAGLE program will strengthen the European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB) hydrogen infrastructure, whose development is now in progress, and will bolster Europe’s potential in producing zero- and low-carbon hydrogen and building a solid supply chain. Its implementation will help to significantly reduce carbon emissions and develop renewable energy sources, supporting the objectives of a circular economy through such measures as conversion of municipal waste into marketable products. The use of low-emission production technologies will contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions by as much as 1 MMt annually.

The HYDROGEN EAGLE project has successfully passed a review by the Ministry of Development, Labour and Technology in the competition for projects in hydrogen technologies and systems under the IPCEI mechanism. The next step will be to notify the support to the European Commission.