Prof. Janusz Kotowicz - the vice-president of the Silesian-Lesser Poland Hydrogen Valley
Prof. Janusz Kotowicz, Vice-Rector for Cooperation with the Social and Economic Environment of the Silesian University of Technology was unanimously elected the vice-president of the board of the Silesian-Lesser Poland Hydrogen Valley association.
Prof. Konrad Świerczek from the AGH University of Science and Technology was elected the second vice-president.
The meeting of the members of the association was held on September 26th this year at the seat of Industrial Development Agency SA (Agencja Rozwoju Przemysłu SA).
Silesian-Lesser Poland Hydrogen Valley (Śląsko-Małopolska Dolina Wodorowa) was established by natural persons associated with the local government, universities, fuel and energy companies. It consists of representatives of the authorities of both provinces, the Silesian University of Technology, the AGH University of Science and Technology, the Cracow University of Technology, the University of Silesia, Orlen Południe, Grupa Azoty, Polenergia, Columbus, Katowice Special Economic Zone, Węglokoks, the Komag Mining Technology Institute, the Institute of Fuel Technology and Energy and the Central Mining Institute.
The aim of the association is to support the development of the hydrogen economy and to strive to build a branch of the Silesian-Lesser Poland hydrogen industry, including one based on the production of hydrogen in the electrolysis process with the use of energy obtained through renewable energy installations, as well as its use in thermal energy, transport, infrastructure and industry. The association will also conduct research, investment and implementation work, as well as act to protect the environment and promote pro-ecological attitudes among young people, entrepreneurs and local communities.
The creation of the Silesian-Lesser Poland Hydrogen Valley is not only the implementation of the Polish Hydrogen Strategy, published in December last year, in which hydrogen can play a key role in the process of achieving climate neutrality, but also an important step towards innovation and decarbonisation of the Polish economy.
