BUDAPEST. AUGUST 7. INTERFAX CENTRAL EUROPE – Hungarian green energy company Quantum Energy Kft, owned by U.S.-based Saba International and Plansys Corporation, is planning investments to produce hydrogen through electrolysis fueled by wind-generated electricity, the company CEO said at the sidelines of a conference on Tuesday.

"We are planning to produce hydrogen from a wind power capacity totaling 15 megawatts (MW) starting next spring," CEO Laszlo Molnar said. "Part of the hydrogen output will be used to run zero-emission buses, while the rest can be used for storing energy or for industrial purposes.

"The company, previously called Bekeswind, already runs two wind turbines with 1.5 MW capacity each, in Southeast Hungary's Mezotur and Central Hungary's Torokszentmiklos. To reach the planned 15 MW capacity, eight more turbines are planned to be built in the proximity of Tura, northeast from Budapest.

"The turbines are planned to be completed by spring next year," Molnar told Interfax. "We are not planning to connect to the power grid, therefore our wind turbines will be exempt from the 330 MW cap [applied on total Hungarian wind power capacities connected to the electricity grid].

"Quantum Energy is also planning to set up hydrolysis equipment at central bus garages, to re-fuel hydrogen-run buses on the spot.

"The whole investment will cost several billions of forints," Molnar told Interfax, adding that the invested amount will be under HUF 10 bln.

The buses, to be assembled by Quantum Energy subsidiary H2Busz Kft, will store and be fueled by hydrogen, with engines produced by Germany's Siemens and the U.S.'s Quantum Technologies. The company's first bus will be completed in about a month, the CEO added.

Veronika Gulyás, Business Report