[ case study ] especially those that are difficult to electrify directly – so-called‘ hard-to-abate’ sectors. The basic unit that forms the system is shown in Fig. 1. A 5 kW-class stack such as this can be replicated and customised in terms of scale and design to meet specific customer requirements.
The second goal was to design an installation with a daily hydrogen production capacity sufficient to fuel several hydrogen buses or a fleet of fuel cell electric vehicles( FCEVs). The team at IEN- PIB was responsible for the design, construction, engineering, implementation, and operation of the SOE installation. The successful completion of both industrial and development work enabled the project team to achieve its main objectives.
About the project
The design, construction, and turn-key delivery – followed by the full-cycle operation – of the VETNI system were completed in the record-setting time of 28 months. This achievement would not have been possible without the close cooperation of the ORLEN, IEN-PIB, and AGH teams. The partnership between these organisations enabled the VETNI project not only to deliver a novel and globally unique solution but also to demonstrate the effectiveness of collaboration between industry, academia, and the research community.
Each partner had clearly defined roles in the project. The AGH team was responsible for material selection and optimisation, focusing on reducing the use of critical raw materials in the solid oxide cells, which were then used in SOE stacks designed and built by IEN- PIB. In addition to the design, construction, and delivery of the installation, IEN-PIB also conducted operational tests and developed the scale-up strategy to support further replication of such systems. Director Marek Laskowski’ s team at ORLEN coordinated the site selection, oversaw the integration of the installation with the Jasło facility, and supervised the testing
Fig. 1. A 5 kW-class SOE stack composed of 90 cells – the basic building block of an installation with solid oxide electrolysers
cycle. Throughout the implementation phase, numerous new concepts and solutions were validated, resulting in significant technological improvements. These outcomes place the VETNI project at the forefront of R & D activities in solid oxide electrolysis and mark it as a key milestone within the Polish Hydrogen Strategy.
The Jasło refining plant was selected as the host site because it met the technical requirements and provided process steam with the parameters necessary for the electrolyser. The scale of the installation – a 30 kW-class electrolyser – was selected to match local needs for hydrogen mobility. Powered by renewable electricity, the electrolyser forms a complete system for hydrogen production and compression, with a daily output of approximately 16 kg of H 2
. It is currently the largest system of its kind in Poland. However, larger units – ranging from 400 kW to 5 MW – are already under development as part of the ongoing collaboration between ORLEN and IEN-PIB( MEGA-SOE project).
Hydrogen Tech World | Issue 22 | June 2025 23