What are hydrogen valleys?
Hydrogen valleys are political-social-economic ventures aimed at developing regional hydrogen markets with the full value chain of hydrogen technologies: production, transmission and storage, as well as application of hydrogen technology in many sectors of the economy. Demonstration projects of Polish hydrogen technologies will be developed in the hydrogen valleys, which, together with the potential of Polish companies, are expected to create a new economic sector based on green technologies. Funding for the hydrogen valleys will consist of EU, national and regional funds, which are intended to mobilise the private resources of Polish entrepreneurs. Hydrogen valleys will play an important role in mobilising private funds for green investments in line with the EU Taxonomy and European Green Deal regime.
According to the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, a public-private partnership that is the operator of €2 billion of EU funding for the development of the hydrogen economy, 5 key conditions must be met to talk about a hydrogen valley:
- Scale of the project - demonstration projects are not enough, the valley must include at least two large, multi-million (EUR) investments. Typically, a valley consists of a number of sub-projects that form a larger project portfolio. It is assumed that a hydrogen valley should have a minimum investment of EUR 20 million. The European average is EUR 100 million.
- Geographically defined area - hydrogen ecosystems must cover a given area / region. This could be a local hydrogen hub and its hinterland, but also a region within a country or a cross-border region - e.g. a transport corridor along a major waterway.
- Covering the hydrogen value chain - from the production of hydrogen using energy from renewable sources through the storage and distribution all the way to off-take processes.
- Use of hydrogen in several economic sectors - application of regionally produced hydrogen in projects in transport, industry and energy. One source - many applications - in different sectors. It is assumed that hydrogen should be applied in at least two economic sectors - e.g. hydrogen buses and use for green ammonia production.
Hydrogen valley in the logic of a feasibility study - the completion of a feasibility study ensures that the project has a realistic chance of being launched and obtaining EU, national and regional funding.
Hydrogen valleys in Poland
- LOWER SILESIAN HYDROGEN VALLEY
Form of business activity: association
Registered seat: Wrocław
Concept: hub management – hydrogen hub management
Main stakeholders: KGHM Polska Miedź S.A., ZAK Kędzierzyn-Koźle S.A., ARP S.A., Toyota Motor Manufacturing Poland Sp. z o.o., Z-Klaster, Wrocław University of Technology, Wrocław University, Office of the Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Linde Gas Polska Sp. z o.o.
Specialisations: green ammonia, green heat, green copper and metallurgy, green river transport, hydrogen storage, RES, biogas, hydrogen pipelines
Achievements: two applications in an international consortium to Horizon Europe submitted in 2022 for the development of a regional hydrogen economy, participation and promotion of the Hydrogen Valley during Hydrogen Week in Brussels, finalisation of the first green hydrogen production project (planned start-up - March 2023), publication of the Lower Silesian Regional Energy Strategy supporting the energy transition of the region
- MAZOVIAN HYDROGEN VALLEY
Form of business activity: cluster
Registered seat: Płock
Concept: Integration around the needs of Poland's largest concern
Main stakeholders: PKN Orlen S.A., ARP S.A., Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego S.A., Toyota Motor Europe, Warsaw University of Technology, Institute of Energy, National Energy Conservation Agency S.A., AGH University of Science and Technology, Siemens Energy Sp. z o.o., University of Warsaw, Polish Chamber of Chemical Industry
Specialisations: petrochemicals, synthetic fuels, green hydrogen production, biogas, HRS - hydrogen filling stations, hydrogen logistics, energy storage, green chemistry, CCUS
Achievements: the main entity involved in the project - PKN Orlen - has launched the Hydrogen Eagle project and received European Commission notification in an IPCEI-type project called Hy2USE; launched Hydrogen Academy project for young managers of the energy transition
- SILESIAN-LESSER POLAND HYDROGEN VALLEY
Form of business activity: association
Registered seat: Katowice
Concept: Energy transformation of Silesia and Lesser Poland based on FST
Main stakeholders: Orlen Południe S.A., Polenergia S.A., ARP S.A. Branch Katowice, JSW Nowe Projekty, Grupa Azoty Tarnów S.A., Silesian University of Technology, AGH University of Science and Technology, KOMAG, Institute for Fuels Technology and Energy (former IPCHW), Katowice SEZ, Upper Silesian Metropolis, Columbus S.A.
Specialisations: green glycol, energy transformation of Silesia, hydrogen production, hydrogen storage, green steel, zero emission public transport, CCUS
Achievements: one of the main players in the Hydrogen Valley - Orlen Południe - has set up a green glycol production unit; development of the hydrogen portal H2Poland.eu, which supports the development of the hydrogen economy in Poland and the activities of the Silesian-Malopolska Hydrogen Valley
- PODKARPACKA HYDROGEN VALLEY
Form of business activity: association
Registered seat: Rzeszow
Concept: Integration around the university and the aviation valley
Main stakeholders: Rzeszów University of Technology, Podkarpacki Marshall’s Office, Polenergia Elektrociepłownia Nowa Sarzyna Sp. z o.o., the city of Sanok, ARP S.A., aviation valley entities, Autosan S.A., ML System S.A.
Specialisations: hydrogen buses, hydrogen in aviation, hydrogen generated power, green heat, hydrogen pipelines
Achievements: application for Project Development Assistance - development of a hydrogen valley concept based on the experience of experts from the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, qualification for stage I of the NCBiR competition by the Nowa Sarzyna CHP Plant, commencement of preparation of a feasibility study for modernisation of a heat plant based on hydrogen technology in Sanok
- BRACIA ŁASZCZYŃSKI CENTRAL HYDROGEN CLUSTER IN SANOK
Form of business activity: cluster
Registered seat: Kielce
Concept: integration around the mineral mine decarbonisation project
Main stakeholders: Grupa Przemysłowa Industria S.A., ARP S.A., the city of Kielce, the municipality of Chęciny, Kielce University of Technology, Columbus S.A., ML System S.A., AIUT S.A., SBB Energy S.A.
Specialisations: hydrogen production from RES, hydrogen haulers, hydrogen storage, RES, green public transport
Achievements: development of a project feasibility study, moving to the implementation phase - development of RES
- POMERANIAN HYDROGEN VALLEY
Form of business activity: commercial chamber/cluster
Registered seat: Gdynia
Concept: integration around local government initiatives, decarbonisation of the Port of Gdynia, "Shore H2 Valley" concept
Main stakeholders: Pomeranian Marshal's Office, Hydrogen Technology Cluster, City of Gdynia, PKP Energetyka S.A., Port of Gdynia, Sescom S.A., Gdansk University of Technology
Specialisations: zero-emission public transport, hydrogen production, offshore, port decarbonisation, hydrogen storage, electrolyser production, HRS
Achievements: preparation of assumptions for the first hydrogen public transport projects in Poland (Gdynia, Tczew, Wejherowo, Hel); completed mapping of the region's potential in Project Development Assistance format
- GREATER POLISH HYDROGEN VALLEY
Form of business activity: advisory board to the Marshal's Office of the Greater Polish Voivodeship
Registered seat: Poznań
Concept: integration around local government initiatives and the decarbonisation needs of a major concern
Main stakeholders: Greater Polish Marshal's Office, ZE PAK S.A., Solaris S.A., Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań University of Technology, Regional Development Agency in Konin, City of Piła, Wielkopolska Council of Thirty
Specialisations: hydrogen production, hydrogen storage, hydrogen filling stations, hydrogen buses, RES
Achievements: mapping of regional needs and local content potential for hydrogen technologies in Greater Poland, h2wielkopolska.pl platform
- West-Pomeranian Hydrogen valley
Form of business activity: letter of intent
Registered seat: Szczecin
Concept: integration around a major chemical company, the "Shore H2 Valley" concept
Main stakeholders: Zachodniopomorski Urząd Wojewódzki, Grupa Azoty Police S.A., ARP S.A., Enea S.A., Port Police S.A., Maritime University of Technology, National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Koszalin University of Technology
Specialisations: green ammonia, low carbon maritime transport, low carbon river transport, ammonia collection infrastructure, hydrogen production, offshore
Achievements: more than 30 stakeholders in hydrogen valley development
Example of hydrogen valley activities in Poland - Baltic Hydrogen Valley
The Lower Silesian Hydrogen Valley Association has joined an international consortium of 37 Baltic Sea stakeholders.
All countries in the region are involved in the project: Finland, Estonia (leader), Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Norway, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland (except Russia).
The purpose of the project is to create a regional hydrogen market in the full value chain of hydrogen technologies in the Baltic Sea area.
As part of the project submitted to the Clean Hydrogen Partnership in the Large Hydrogen Valley competition, EUR 25 million is earmarked for the development of the Baltic project.
The consortium consists of technology companies, energy companies and regional energy transition leaders.
