Hungary's MOL Unveils 10-MW Hydrogen Facility Delivered by Plug Power

MOL Group aims to offer sustainable solutions for the future, exemplified by its green hydrogen plant in Százhalombatta. Equipped with a 10-megawatt electrolysis unit from Plug Power, the plant generates approximately 1,600 tonnes of clean, carbon-neutral green hydrogen annually. This €22 million investment is projected to slash the carbon footprint of the Danube Refinery by over 25,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide yearly. The advanced technology will gradually substitute the current production process reliant on natural gas, reducing MOL Group's carbon dioxide emissions by one-sixth. Scheduled to commence operations in the latter half of 2024, the plant will primarily supply green hydrogen for fuel production within MOL's network.

Plug Power's electrolysis equipment harnesses electricity sourced from renewables to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, ensuring the absence of polluting by-products. Remarkably, the plant yields 8-9 tonnes of pure oxygen for every tonne of hydrogen produced. Leveraging nearly half a century of operational expertise, the US-based company provides MOL with innovative and dependable technology. Specifically tailored for pure hydrogen production, the hydrogen generators offer proven reliability and efficiency.

"At MOL Group, we've achieved a significant milestone: the production of green hydrogen with zero greenhouse gas emissions. This technology enables us to achieve emissions reductions equivalent to removing approximately 5,500 cars from the road overnight. Today, our new green hydrogen plant is enhancing the environmental sustainability of MOL's industrial operations, and tomorrow, it will provide solutions for the broader industry and hydrogen mobility. Following Százhalombatta, we plan to extend this technology to the other two fuel production units within the group, aiming to enhance the sustainability of fuel production processes across all MOL Group refineries," stated József Molnár, CEO of MOL Group, during the inauguration ceremony of the new green hydrogen plant.

The investment aligns with the MOL Group's corporate strategy, SHAPE TOMORROW, which seeks to enhance the region's sustainability, competitiveness, and self-sufficiency.

"We are excited to mark the opening of one of Europe's largest green hydrogen plants in collaboration with MOL," remarked Plug CEO Andy Marsh. "This plant represents a significant step in reducing carbon emissions within refinery operations. We take pride in providing MOL with advanced electrolyzer technology to produce green hydrogen efficiently. Together, we are driving towards carbon neutrality, promoting greener practices, and advancing the hydrogen economy."

MOL Group, a prominent integrated oil and gas company based in Budapest, Hungary, operates across more than 30 countries and has a workforce of 25,000 employees globally. With 80 years of experience in the hydrocarbon sector, MOL's exploration and production endeavors are well-supported.