ORLEN Group launches its first hydrogen refuelling station in Prague to promote eco-friendly fuel

ORLEN Group launches its first hydrogen refuelling station in Prague to promote eco-friendly fuel

(IN BRIEF) ORLEN Group has launched a new hydrogen refuelling station at the ORLEN Benzina facility in Prague, which will offer eco-friendly fuel for cars, trucks, and buses in the Czech Republic. Later this year, ORLEN Group will also introduce hydrogen stations in Poznań and Katowice, allowing drivers in Poland to fill up their cars with eco-friendly fuel. By mid-2025, ORLEN plans to open additional hydrogen stations in Bielsko-Biała, Gorzów Wielkopolski, Wałbrzych, Kraków, Piła, and Warsaw. The move toward alternative fuels is part of the ORLEN2030 strategy, aimed at promoting sustainable solutions for the future. The ORLEN Benzina station in Prague features two dispensers that come equipped with specially designed gun noses that offer a pressure of 700 bar for cars and 350 bar for larger vehicles.

(PRESS RELEASE) PŁOCK, Poland, 10-Mar-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — PKN ORLEN (WSE: PKN), a Polish oil refiner and petrol retailer, announces that it has launched a new hydrogen refuelling station at the ORLEN Benzina facility in Prague – Barrandov, which will provide eco-friendly fuel for cars, trucks, and buses in the Czech Republic. This is the first of several hydrogen stations that will be introduced in Poland, with Poznań and Katowice expected to be operational later this year, followed by stations in Bielsko-Biała, Gorzów Wielkopolski, Wałbrzych, Kraków, Piła, and Warsaw by mid-2025. The ORLEN2030 strategy aims to support sustainable solutions for the future by expanding traditional and alternative fuels to include hydrogen, promoting low- and zero-emission individual and public transport. ORLEN Unipetrol aims to provide up to 28 hydrogen filling stations across the Czech Republic by 2030, along with two hydrogen distribution terminals for rail transport in Litvínov and Neratovice.

“As previously announced, we are expanding the availability and range of fuels offered to our customers. The ORLEN Group’s first hydrogen refuelling station in the Czech Republic has already been opened, following a similar facility launched last year in Kraków. This marks a significant step forward in our efforts to develop hydrogen infrastructure in Central Europe and establish ourselves as a leader in zero-emission transport. Our ultimate ambition is to build over 100 refuelling stations in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia by the end of this decade, positioning our network as a crucial component of hydrogen transport corridors throughout Europe. In doing so, we hope to play a significant role in the region’s efforts towards achieving climate neutrality,” commented Daniel Obajtek, CEO and President of the Management Board of PKN ORLEN.

Hydrogen fuel infrastructure is a fundamental component of ORLEN Group’s Hydrogen Strategy and is a pivotal aspect of the ORLEN2030 initiative. As a substitute for conventional fuels, hydrogen plays a significant role in the decarbonization process. The company’s goal is to produce up to 50% low- or zero-emission hydrogen, with an ultimate goal of achieving approximately 80% by 2030 and beyond. The hydrogen fuelling facilities will be supplied with hydrogen from an extensive network of hydrogen hubs, powered by renewable energy sources and advanced facilities that will convert municipal waste into zero- and low-emission hydrogen.

Hydrogen-powered vehicles represent the future of environmentally conscious driving, with the only by-product of the chemical reaction being water. One of the most significant advantages of hydrogen-powered vehicles over battery electric vehicles is their impressive range, which can reach up to 700 km, with significantly shorter refuelling times. PKN ORLEN has secured funding from the Innovation Fund, CEF (Connecting Europe Facility), the National Fund for Environmental Protection, and the European Commission’s notification for the ‘Hydrogen Eagle’ project under the IPCEI mechanism, to finance these projects.

Media contact:
media@orlen.pl

SOURCE: PKN ORLEN