German automotive giant Volkswagen is set to install a hydrogen production system at its Poznań plant in Poland designed to improve the efficiency of a 1.5 MW gas burner. The project is expected to cut fuel consumption by up to 30% and lower on-site carbon emissions.

The system will be supplied by Bulgarian hydrogen technologies firm Hydrogenera, which will deliver and install an electrolyser of up to 90 kW capable of producing hydrogen and oxygen for injection into the burner.

The company said the upgrade will improve combustion performance while maintaining the plant’s existing production set-up.

VW Poznań is among the largest automotive factory employers in Poland and is the global production centre for the light commercial vehicle Volkswagen Caddy.

In a statement, Hydrogenera says: 'The project represents an important milestone in the development of the company and confirms its ability to meet the highest standards in industrial applications of hydrogen technologies.'

Hydrogenera recently deployed its first 1 MW electrolyser as it expands its industrial footprint in Central and Eastern Europe.

Earlier this year, VW announced it is preparing to begin in-house hydrogen production at the Baunatal plant in North Hesse, Germany. The firm aims to replace part of the natural gas used for aluminium smelting with hydrogen – covering roughly 20% of the gas demand for the foundry.

The hydrogen will be produced via onsite electrolysis, with electricity generated from photovoltaic panels and vertical wind turbines.

At the Poznań plant, VW has already deployed large-scale renewable energy in the form of a solar photovoltaic installation. According to a 2025 report, the PV farm supplies about 25% of the plant’s electricity needs, part of a broader plan that could see up to 60% of its power coming from on-site renewables by 2030.