Orlen-led group bags EU grant for H2 vehicle project at Polish airport

An international project led by Polish oil refiner Orlen SA (WSE:PKN) has obtained EUR 9 million (USD 9.9m) in grant financing from the European Union (EU) to test the use of green hydrogen-powered vehicles for the Chopin Airport in Warsaw and the city’s public transport system.

The funding, which will be disbursed under the EU Clean Hydrogen Partnership programme, is directed towards the so-called HySPARK project.

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Under the plan, Orlen will produce hydrogen at its hub in Wloclawek city, in the Kuyavian–Pomeranian Voivodeship in central Poland, and supply it to a refuelling station that will be installed at Chopin Airport in 2026. The project also involves the delivery of hydrogen buses and trucks by Arthur Bus and Quantron, respectively, and of ground handling equipment by Italy-based Atena.

The HySPARK initiative consists of 17 partners from Poland, Germany, Italy, Ireland and the UK. Their goal is to set up a hydrogen distribution market in central Poland over the coming years.

Orlen’s participation in the project is aligned with its plan to have about 1 GW of electrolysis capacity by 2030 to produce over 130,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually.