ORLEN accelerates hydrogen investments. New Szczecin hub to support zero-emission transport

Investment aimed at transport and logistics

Poland’s energy group ORLEN has launched the construction phase of a new hydrogen hub in Szczecin, strengthening the company’s growing hydrogen infrastructure network for zero-emission transport in Central and Eastern Europe.

The project, valued at approximately PLN 75 million, includes the construction of a 5 MW electrolyser powered by renewable energy sources, hydrogen storage facilities, and infrastructure for loading and distribution.

The Szczecin facility is expected to produce up to 90 kilograms of automotive-grade hydrogen per hour, equivalent to more than 2 tonnes per day under continuous operation. The hydrogen will primarily supply refuelling stations serving public transport fleets, heavy-duty vehicles and passenger cars.

Szczecin gains strategic hydrogen role

The location of the investment reflects Szczecin’s growing importance as a logistics and transport hub connected to the European TEN-T corridors and Baltic Sea supply chains.

“We are developing infrastructure that will become the foundation of the hydrogen economy in Poland and across the region. Szczecin, thanks to its connection with the European TEN-T transport corridors and logistics facilities, plays a key role in building the zero-emission transport market. This project supports our ambitions related to climate neutrality and energy security,” said Grzegorz Jóźwiak, Executive Director for Biofuels and Hydrogen at ORLEN.

He added that the company is consistently building the full hydrogen value chain — from production and storage to distribution and use in transport and industry — with increasing participation from Polish contractors.

EU-backed hydrogen development

The Szczecin hub is being developed under the third phase of the "Clean Cities - Hydrogen Mobility in Poland" programme, co-financed by the European Union. ORLEN secured approximately EUR 62 million in non-refundable EU funding for the broader initiative.

The general contractor for the project is Polish company Torpol Oil & Gas, highlighting the growing role of domestic firms in strategic energy transition projects.

ORLEN expands national hydrogen network

The Szczecin project forms part of ORLEN’s wider hydrogen strategy in Poland. The company launched its first hydrogen hub in Trzebinia in 2021 and is currently developing additional projects in Płock, Włocławek and Gdańsk.

According to the current schedule, the Szczecin hydrogen hub is expected to begin operations at the turn of 2027 and 2028.