Ireneusz Zyska: Hydrogen is an opportunity to move away from fossil fuels (1)
The use of hydrogen and domestic experience in the implementation of hydrogen technologies were the main topics discussed at the conference "The Energy Crisis and the Rise of Hydrogen." The event, held on November 15, 2022 in Warsaw, was attended by, among others, Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment, Government Plenipotentiary for Renewable Energy, Ireneusz Zyska.
As Deputy Minister Zyska said during the panel "Hydrogen in the strategies of Polish enterprises," this raw material can replace hydrocarbons in many areas related to the production of energy, heat, vehicle propulsion and energy storage.
- Hydrogen is an opportunity for Polish companies to move away from classic fossil fuels, serving to further the energy transformation of their operations. Polish companies are already investing in hydrogen and planning to build large-scale hydrogen projects. An example is PKN ORLEN's Hydrogen Eagle project, which will contribute to the creation of a network of hydrogen stations in Central and Eastern Europe, significantly shortening our region's distance from Western European countries in this regard - said Ireneusz Zyska.
The government plenipotentiary also noted that the government is currently working on a legislative package, the so-called "Constitution for Hydrogen," and an appropriate course of action has already been prepared.
- We have prepared the Polish Hydrogen Strategy, which is one of the most important strategies. According to this document, the construction of a hydrogen economy in Poland will be based on the creation of hydrogen valleys. The government also remains open to bilateral cooperation in the field of hydrogen technology - he said.
- The preparation of mature technological solutions in the field of hydrogen, based on domestic potential, will allow not only to increase the competitiveness of the Polish economy, but, above all, will enable Poland to act as an exporter and beneficiary of the development of the hydrogen economy in the future - Deputy Minister Zyska concluded.
Poland is currently the third largest producer of hydrogen in the European Union (fifth in the world), with production of between 1 and 1.4 million tons per year. It is directed in particular to the refining and chemical sectors. Unfortunately, 95 percent of the hydrogen produced in Poland is still hydrogen created from natural gas, thus leaving a carbon footprint behind.
Source: the Ministry of the Climate Environment