At the Rijeka Refinery in western Croatia, oil and gas company INA completed the installation of solar panels that would power the country’s first commercial green hydrogen production facility.
Civil engineering and installation works on a solar power plant have been completed within the refinery in the city of Rijeka. It is a key component in the project for the forst electrolyzer for the production of green hydrogen in Croatia. The peak capacity of the photovoltaic unit is 11 MW.
Before the solar power plant is commissioned, final testing and the necessary technical activities need to be carried out, INA said.
By completing the mechanical segment of the works, the company has met initial deadlines under a cofunding agreement with the government, the update adds. INA received a EUR 15 million grant for the project from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP or, in Croatian, NPOO).
Končar is the main contractor for the investment, valued at EUR 61 million. Works are also underway to install the 10 MW electrolyzer.
First molecules of green hydrogen are scheduled to be produced in 2027
“The renewable hydrogen production project is one of our key strategic investments, laying the foundations for the development of new sustainable energy solutions. This is an important step in the implementation of a project that will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the sustainability of refinery operations, and opening up new opportunities for the development of the green hydrogen market in Croatia,” said Zsuzsanna Ortutay, President of the Management Board of INA. She visited the construction site together with representatives of Končar.
The facility’s planned green hydrogen production capacity will be around 1,500 tons per year, according to the statement. The company expects the first molecules of green hydrogen to be produced in 2027.
It is intended for the market, primarily the transport sector, as well as for use in the refinery’s production process.
“The completion of the works in the first stage of this project confirms the expertise and dedication of all teams involved, as well as the successful cooperation between Končar and INA on an initiative that sets new standards in the application of sustainable energy technologies. This is further confirmation that domestic knowledge, experience and industrial capacities can successfully respond to the most complex requirements of the energy transition,” said Gordan Kolak, President of the Management Board of Končar.
