Innovative hydrogen project funding agreement with NCBR

Synthos has signed a contract with the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) to co-finance a PLN 105m innovative hydrogen technology project. This is the result of a content assessment in the “IPCEI Hydrogen” competition, implemented with funds from the European Funds for Smart Economy programme.

IPCEI projects (Important Projects of Common European Interest) are significant projects of common European interest for which the European Commission has taken a positive decision to grant aid. This mechanism supports the implementation of the European Union’s economic and competition policies in order to strengthen the potential of European industry in the face of global competition.

The project “Development and Demonstration of Hydrogen Production Technology Based on High-Temperature Steam Splitting Using Zero-Emission Energy Resources” by Synthos, selected in the NCBR competition implemented with European funds, “IPCEI Hydrogen”, is intended to contribute to increasing energy independence while reducing the European Union’s reliance on Russian energy sources. The technologies explored in the project are identified in the Polish Hydrogen Strategy as those of the highest priority on the development path of the national hydrogen economy.

The application to the IPCEI programme was prepared by Synthos Green Energy SA. The company was also responsible for the project at the stage of preparing the notification of the entire IPCEI hydrogen programme to the European Commission.

The character of IPCEI projects is unique: they are capital-intensive and, at the same time, important from the point of view of innovation at the level of the European Union and its strategic objectives. For this reason, only entities that have received a positive decision from the European Commission allowing them to receive aid could participate in the competition, said Piotr Krasiński, Deputy Director of the National Centre for Research and Development. At one and the same time, IPCEI projects bring immense benefits to companies, allowing them to accumulate specialised knowledge and integrate into value chains in the field of breakthrough technologies. They facilitate the internationalisation of Polish companies through the possibility of establishing close cooperation with companies from other EU countries operating in the field of advanced technologies. Finally, the projects should also stimulate the export of high-tech products.

Advanced hydrogen production technology

In addition to carrying out research and development work, the beneficiaries of the IPCEI competition are also obliged to be the first to implement it in an industrial setting. The essence of the first phase of the project is the development of two prototype technologies: the high-temperature thermochemical water-splitting Cu-Cl cycle (TWSC) and the solid oxide electro­lyser (SOE). Based on the results obtained, one of these technologies will be selected for the construction of a demonstration plant for industrial-scale hydrogen production..

As a result of the implementation of the project, a hydrogen production plant will be created with the following parameters: capacity of 1,400 tonnes per year; energy efficiency of the plant above 55%; cost of production of one kilogram of hydrogen: below 5 euros.

The implementation of the project will enable the acquisition of a low-emission source of hydrogen for process, transport and energy applications. This will be possible thanks to the use of innovative H2 production technology aimed at industry, including the energy-intensive sector in which Synthos operates. The expected impact of the project is the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, which will contribute to the achievement of environmental goals, especially those related to the European Green Deal, stressed Zbigniew Warmuz, Synthos Management Board President. In addition, the demonstration plant will serve as a reference object confirming the feasibility of applying this solution, which will act as an incentive and stimulus for the market to make similar investments.

The project is expected to be completed by 30 September 2027.