MOL Group has handed over a 10-megawatt (MW) capacity green H₂ plant in Százhalombatta which is the largest in Central and Eastern Europe. The €22-MM investment makes fuel production more sustainable. The plant will reduce the Danube Refinery's carbon dioxide emissions by 25,000 t. MOL will be able to produce 1,600 tpy of clean, carbon-neutral green H₂ which opens a new chapter in H₂ economy. The investment is in line with the MOL Group's SHAPE TOMORROW corporate strategy to make the region more sustainable, competitive and self-sufficient.

MOL Group’s goal is to provide the solutions for tomorrow: the green H₂ plant in Százhalombatta, with a 10-MW electrolysis unit created by Plug Power produces around 1,600 tpy of clean, carbon-neutral green H₂. The €22-MM investment will reduce the carbon footprint of the Danube Refinery by more than 25,000 tpy of carbon dioxide (CO₂). The new technology will gradually replace the natural gas-based production process, which currently accounts for one sixth of the MOL Group's total CO₂ emissions. The plant will start producing in the second half of 2024. MOL will use the green H₂ primarily in its own network for fuel production.

Plug Power's electrolysis equipment uses electricity from renewable sources to break down water into H₂ and oxygen. This means that no polluting byproducts are generated, and the plant produces 8 t−9 t of pure oxygen per t of H₂. The U.S. company has offered MOL an innovative and reliable technology. The H₂ generators, optimized for the production of pure H₂, have almost 50 yr of operational experience.

“MOL Group has reached another milestone: we can now produce green H₂ without producing any greenhouse gases. Using this technology, we are able to achieve the same emissions reduction as if we took roughly 5,500 cars off the road overnight. Today, our new green H₂ plant is only making MOL's industrial operations greener, but tomorrow it will offer solutions for the whole industry and H₂ mobility. After Száhalombatta, we will take the technology to the other two fuel production units of the group to make the fuel production process more sustainable at each of MOL Group's refineries,” said József Molnár, CEO of MOL Group, at the inauguration ceremony of the new green H₂ plant.

The investment is in line with the MOL Group's SHAPE TOMORROW corporate strategy which aims to make the region more sustainable, competitive and self-sufficient.

“We are thrilled to celebrate, in partnership with MOL, the inauguration of one of Europe's largest green H₂ plants supporting a refinery,” said Plug CEO Andy Marsh. “As a potent way to reduce carbon emissions within refinery operations, we are proud to equip MOL with cutting-edge electrolyzer technology to efficiently produce green H₂. Together, we are advancing towards carbon neutrality, fostering greener operations, and propelling the H₂ economy forward.”