On May 20, 2022, PKN ORLEN signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Alstom to provide zero-emission, environmentally friendly trains and hydrogen fuel for public rail transport. The company has been implementing a hydrogen strategy, announcing in 2022 that it will provide the fueling infrastructure for trains produced by Alstom. The first hydrogen-fuelled vehicles could be rolled out on regional lines within two years.

Daniel Obajtek, Chairman of the Management Board of PKN ORLEN, said: “We are effectively implementing our hydrogen strategy, which supports our efforts to achieve carbon neutrality. By 2030, we intend to allocate approximately PLN 7.5 billion for investment. This will translate into Reducing 1.6 million tons of CO2 emissions and above all improving Poland's energy security, the cooperation with Alstom is another important step that will strengthen our position as a hydrogen technology region.

Reserve hydrogen energy

Under the agreement, Alstom will cooperate with PKN ORLEN in litigation organized by the public rail transport operator. Alstom will be responsible for supplying zero-emission trains powered by hydrogen fuel cells. In turn, PKN ORLEN will be responsible for allocating, storing and supplying hydrogen fuel for these trains.

Train hydrogen energy storage device

Józef Węgrecki, member of the PKN ORLEN Operations Management Board, said: "We have been developing alternative energy sources, including hydrogen. This is the fuel of the future and will drive the energy transition in the long term. We have strong capabilities in this area, backed by experience. Alstom's collaboration will allow us to implement pilot hydrogen projects in public rail transport and strengthen our position in Poland and throughout Central Europe."

Hydrogen on the rails

Sławomir Cyza, President and Managing Director of Alstom in Poland, Ukraine and the Baltic, said: “A key element of Alstom’s strategy is to have a positive impact on the climate and the environment. We have been using hydrogen technology in rail transport for many years, We are the first company in the world to start commercial passenger transport with hydrogen trains, which are completely emission-free and, importantly, partly produced in Poland. We are the first to introduce high-speed trains into 20 Pendolino trains in Poland. I hope Alstom will do the same Pioneering the introduction of hydrogen trains to Poland. The agreement signed today with PKN ORLEN is another step towards transforming Polish railways with the most advanced global technology.”

In 2025, the hydrogen laboratory will be established in the Pwok R&D Center, with a planned investment of US$7.5 billion. Artur Fryczkowski, Alstom's Vice President and Head of Sales and Business Development in Poland, Ukraine and the Baltic States, said: "Alstom is a pioneer in developing hydrogen technology for rail transport. In 2018, we were the first company in the world to integrate Coradiai Lint Manufacturer of hydrogen-powered trains entering commercial service. The partnership with PKN ORLEN will allow us to more effectively realize our ambitions to be a leader in rail transport technology, as well as Poland's ambitions as one of the key countries that are developing and implementing hydrogen technology research. The main motivation for hydrogen technology is the need to find zero-emission energy sources, and the same is true for transport. Increased zero-emission rail traffic means less pollution and lower CO2 emissions.”

In response to the challenges associated with the energy transition, ORLEN Group has developed its Hydrogen Strategy 2030, which is integrated with the ORLEN 2030 Business Strategy. The document defines the company's goals through the end of the century and long-term goals in four key areas: transportation, refining and petrochemicals, industry and energy, and research and development. The hydrogen strategy assumes the use of hydrogen in urban public transport and railways. To this end, PKNORLEN has signed letters of intent for cooperation with more than 20 potential hydrogen receiving cities and companies in Poland.

In 2021, a hydrogen research and analysis laboratory and the first hydrogen center will be commissioned in Trzebinia, which is currently producing grey hydrogen for transport, but will eventually produce low-emission hydrogen from renewable energy sources. By the end of the decade, 10 hydrogen hubs will be operational in places such as Włocławek and Płock. Keywords: engineering construction, engineering news

At the same time, by 2025, a hydrogen laboratory will be established at the R&D center in Płock. It will conduct unit testing and research in the fields of hydrogen production, quality and purification, as well as storage and transport. PKN ORLEN is also the leader of the Mazovian Hydrogen Valley, which cooperates with 36 entities in the production, storage and use of zero- and low-emission hydrogen, especially in the fields of transportation, power generation, municipal economy and agriculture. Alstom is a protected trademark of the Alstom Group.Editor/XingWentao