On Friday 12 July, the European Commission announced that it had authorised a Lithuanian aid measure worth €122 million to help AB Achema decarbonise its fertiliser production processes by replacing fossil hydrogen with so-called renewable hydrogen, which is less CO2-intensive.
This is to be achieved by installing a 171 MW alkaline electrolyser, due to begin operation in 2026, at AB Achema’s production site in the Kaunas region of Lithuania.
The hydrogen produced by this electrolyser should replace 30% of the hydrogen currently produced from natural gas.
According to the European Commission, once completed, this project should avoid the release of at least 5.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere over the planned 19-year operating life of the electrolyser.
The measure will be financed through the Just Transition Fund, and AB Achema will receive the aid in the form of a direct grant. (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)