ORLEN Group has obtained 1.7 billion zlotys ($460 million) in non-repayable funding from Poland’s National Recovery Plan (NRP) to support its Green H2 and Hydrogen Eagle hydrogen initiatives. This funding will facilitate the production of renewable hydrogen through electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources and the conversion of municipal waste into low-emission hydrogen.
The financial support comes through the Investments in Hydrogen Technologies, Storage, and Transport of Hydrogen measure, managed by Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego. This funding is expected to strengthen Europe’s hydrogen infrastructure and contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions.
The Green H2 project will focus on producing renewable hydrogen specifically for refinery operations at the Gdańsk fuel production facility. The initiative is led by LOTOS Green H2, a subsidiary of the ORLEN Group. It features the installation of a 100 MW electrolyzer paired with an energy storage system.
Ireneusz Fąfara, President and CEO of ORLEN, noted that the nearly 2 billion zlotys allocated for the Hydrogen Eagle and Green H2 projects will accelerate advancements in the hydrogen sector. He emphasized that the NRP funding will allow for more efficient scaling of hydrogen production infrastructure, bolstering the domestic and European hydrogen supply networks.
ORLEN aims to achieve an electrolysis-based hydrogen production capacity of 0.9 GW, with 0.7 GW planned for domestic development in Poland by 2035. The company intends to meet additional demand through imports, contingent on establishing the necessary import infrastructure.
In a related move, ORLEN VC, the company’s corporate venture capital fund, has invested in Hystar, a producer of PEM electrolyzers. This partnership will enhance zero-emission hydrogen production and provide crucial technological support for ORLEN’s projects.
In March 2025, ORLEN secured a loan of 1.7 billion zlotys ($442 million) to expand Poland’s electricity distribution network, furthering its commitment to renewable energy initiatives.
