Groundbreaking Multifuel technology introduced to market by ORLEN
The ORLEN Group is the world’s pioneer in commercialising Multifuel, a cutting-edge technology that enables the generation of electricity and heat using hydrogen, natural gas or any mixture of the two, in a fully automated process.
Developed jointly with Horus Energia, this proprietary innovation will accelerate the adoption of alternative fuels in industrial settings, delivering a tangible pathway for industry to decarbonise. Its application will facilitate a gradual, stable energy transition, giving business users flexibility in the selection of energy sources. Compatible with both new and existing generation units, Multifuel can increase power generation efficiency by up to 5%. ORLEN and its partner have filed for patent protection of this proprietary technology.
“We are successfully translating bold ideas into market-ready solutions. With Multifuel, we have developed, tested, and are now implementing and commercialising the world’s first system that enables energy production from clean-burning fuels such as natural gas and hydrogen – individually or in combination, depending on availability. Our innovation is a major step forward in the energy transition, bringing us closer to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. From the outset, we designed Multifuel for broad industrial application to help decarbonise the Polish economy,” says Tomasz Jarmicki, Head of ORLEN’s Gas Technology Development and Deployment Office.
The Multifuel system is a unique overlay for large-capacity gas engines ranging from 300 kWel to 2 MWel, offering broad applicability across various industries. It is especially valuable in power generation, including energy hubs and energy clusters, and as a stabilising element for the Polish power grid. Additionally, the technology can be integrated into electric vehicle charging stations and is suited for large-scale residential buildings, shopping centres and public facilities where uninterrupted power supply or backup generation is essential.
What sets Multifuel apart is its ability to dynamically adjust fuel composition on the fly. The system includes two independent fuel supply lines – one for hydrogen, one for natural gas – both integrated with a control and monitoring system. This enables real-time adjustment of gas ratios without interrupting the unit’s operation or reducing engine power, a functionality unmatched by any other solution on the market. Fuel dosing is automatically regulated, and its parameters can be modified within a single engine cycle.
ORLEN’s proprietary technology has been validated through extensive testing. Key operational parameters of the prototype confirmed the system’s high efficiency and reliability. During trials involving over half a tonne of hydrogen mixed in varying proportions with natural gas, maximum power generation efficiency improved by over 5% compared with factory baseline performance of standard gas engines without Multifuel. The tests also demonstrated the safe application of hydrogen–natural gas mixtures in power generation processes.
Under the agreement between ORLEN and Horus Energia, the latter has incorporated Multifuel-equipped products into its portfolio, suitable for both new and existing distributed generation systems. This will support their gradual decarbonisation through a phased transition to alternative gaseous fuels. To protect this invention, ORLEN has submitted Multifuel for patent registration with the Polish Patent Office and its European counterpart EPO.
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