Czech regional authority in Ústí nad Labem approves Unipetrol investment in green hydrogen

The Ústí nad Labem Regional Authority has approved Orlen Unipetrol RPA’s investment in producing renewable hydrogen using electricity from renewable sources. The project is expected to start in 2026 and be completed by the end of 2028. This is according to a decision published on the regional authority’s official noticeboard. The news was reported by ekonomickydenik.cz.

According to the news site, the company aims to produce around 900 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per year. It would replace some of the so-called grey hydrogen used in fuel production. The company plans to produce hydrogen using solar power and electrolyzers.

Regional officials approved the project two months after it was submitted and did not require a more detailed environmental impact assessment (EIA) in this case. “The production of renewable hydrogen using renewable electricity sources at ORLEN Unipetrol RPA cannot have a significant impact on the environment and will not be assessed under the cited law,” the officials said in their decision.

The hydrogen production technology itself is to be located inside the fenced petrochemical plant near Litvínov. Solar power plants will be located on ash dumps around two kilometres from the hydrogen production facility, and are expected to operate for 30 years. The company is also considering buying green energy from external suppliers. To produce renewable hydrogen through water electrolysis, the company plans to acquire three PEM electrolyzer units.