MOL starts production at largest green hydrogen plant in Central Europe

MOL Group has commenced operations at its new 10 megawatt (MW) green hydrogen plant, the largest of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe. Located at the Danube Refinery in Százhalombatta, this cutting-edge facility is set to produce 1,600 tonnes of carbon-neutral hydrogen annually, which will be used in MOL’s fuel production process, significantly reducing the refinery’s carbon emissions.

The green hydrogen production process, powered by renewable electricity and Plug Power’s electrolysis unit, is expected to reduce the refinery’s carbon dioxide emissions by 25,000 tonnes each year—the equivalent of removing 5,400 cars from the roads. The new facility also generates eight to nine tonnes of pure oxygen per tonne of hydrogen produced, further contributing to environmental sustainability.

This project aligns with MOL Group’s “SHAPE TOMORROW” strategy, which emphasises sustainability, competitiveness, and self-sufficiency for the region.

“Green hydrogen is a clean and versatile energy source that we currently use for fuel production to reduce our carbon dioxide footprint, and according to our plans, soon it can be directly used in the transportation sector as well. Production and use of green hydrogen helps the green energy transition in an innovative way, which is a fundamental goal of MOL’s strategy. After Százhalombatta, we are planning similar plants in Bratislava and Rijeka of which the latter can commence operations in 2026,” said Ádám Horváth, vice president of New and Sustainable Businesses at MOL Group.

The EUR22 million (USD24.3 million) investment will also replace MOL’s current natural gas-based hydrogen production process, which currently accounts for one-sixth of the company’s total carbon emissions. The initiative is part of MOL’s broader plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, as the company transitions to a low-carbon, circular economy.