A 10-million euro green hydrogen plant under construction in Vilnius is expected to begin producing clean fuel for the capital’s public transport system this autumn, Mayor Valdas Benkunskas has said.
The facility is being developed by municipal heat supplier Miesto Gijos. Once completed, it will supply hydrogen to power the city’s first hydrogen-fuelled buses, which are expected to begin carrying passengers in November.
“Vilnius will soon start producing green hydrogen and use it in the public transport system,” Benkunskas said at a ceremonial capsule burial event marking the project’s progress. “This will create a fully environmentally friendly cycle, practically without CO2 emissions.”
The mayor said the city initially planned to deploy 10 hydrogen-powered buses, with a longer-term goal of 16. The municipality has relaunched a public tender for the buses and expects to select a supplier in March. At first, the buses will likely be leased to ensure operations can begin in the autumn.
Construction of the plant, located at the site of Vilnius’ second combined heat and power plant, is nearing completion. Key equipment – including the electrolyzer, compressor, transformers and hydrogen dispensers – has already been delivered and installed, according to project contractor MT Group.
Miesto Gijos CEO Gerimantas Bakanas said the project was on schedule, with hydrogen production expected to start in July or August.
The plant will use electrolysis to produce up to 3.45 million cubic metres of green hydrogen annually from water and electricity. In addition to hydrogen, the facility will generate excess heat, which will be fed into the city’s district heating network.
“We are talking about a circular economy,” Bakanas said. “We produce hydrogen, capture the residual heat and supply clean fuel to city buses.”
Hydrogen will be stored in four containers and transported to the Justiniskes district, where a refuelling station will be installed at the Vilniaus Public Transport (VVT) bus depot. The station will be publicly accessible.
About 5.64 million euros of the project’s funding comes from the European Union. Benkunskas said the plant would not be economically viable without EU support, which covered about 70% of the investment through structural funds. (LRT)