Polish energy giant ORLEN, through its venture capital arm ORLEN Venture Capital, has made a notable investment in Hystar AS, a leading Norwegian manufacturer specializing in high-efficiency Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolysers for green hydrogen production. Hystar's patented design features ultra-thin membranes, significantly enhancing energy efficiency and reducing production costs. This advancement is crucial in making large-scale, emission-free hydrogen production economically feasible. Hystar, with its certified electrolyser systems, is set to drive the transition towards sustainable hydrogen solutions. The investment from ORLEN VC is seen as pivotal for ORLEN Group's hydrogen strategy. Grzegorz Józwiak, ORLEN's Director of Hydrogen Technologies and Synthetic Fuels, highlighted the strategic importance of this move and the potential for significant hydrogen production capacity expansion. Hystar's roadmap includes launching a fully automated production line by 2027, aiming to achieve an annual capacity of 1.5 GW initially, scaling up to an impressive 4.5 GW by 2031. The company's growth plans are further bolstered by a EUR 26 million grant from the European Innovation Fund, emphasizing the support for automation. Overall, the recent funding round exceeding EUR 32 million ensures Hystar's financial stability for executing its expansion plans and contributing to the hydrogen economy's development.