The Silesian Hydrogen Valley

Yesterday, i.e. on 10.08 at 10:00 a.m., in the marble hall of the Silesian Voivodship Office in Katowice, a meeting was held on the creation of the Silesian Hydrogen Valley. The meeting was attended by: representatives of central and voivodship authorities, Silesian parliamentarians, representatives of the world of science and business.

The meeting was opened by Paweł Kolczyński, Vice President of the Agencja Rozwoju Przemysłu S.A. (transl. Industrial Development Agency; in short ARP). The guests were welcomed by the Silesian Voivode - Jarosław Wieczorek. In his speech, he emphasised the hopes and chances which the development of hydrogen technologies brings to the country and to our voivodship. Mr Ireneusz -  Zyska Government Plenipotentiary for Renewable Energy Sources – presented plans for development of Hydrogen Valleys in the country and projects for their management in the context of Polish Hydrogen Strategy.

Cezariusz Lesisz, President of the Industrial Development Agency drew attention to the necessity of cooperation between industry and science in developing and implementing hydrogen technologies. He also expressed hope that universities, research institutions and companies operating in Silesia will apply for funds to create a hydrogen ecosystem. Presentations entitled. "Opportunities and challenges of the Silesian Hydrogen Valley" was presented by Bartosz Sokoliński, Managing Director for Innovation and Technology at the ARP S.A.

The first to speak in the discussion was Professor Janusz Kotowicz, Vice-Rector for Collaboration with Civic and Economic Environment of the Silesian University of Technology. In his speech, he proposed establishing a Centre for Development of Hydrogen Technologies at the Silesian University of Technology. He invited other industry institutes as well as the Polish Academy of Sciences and other higher education institutions to cooperate in this field. The scope of the Centre's activities should be defined in the following areas:

1. Implementation of hydrogen technology in the Energy sector.
2. Use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel for transport.
3. Support the decarbonisation of industry (industrial use of hydrogen).
4. Hydrogen production in new installations.
5. Efficient and safe hydrogen transmission, distribution, and storage.
6. Development of a national hydrogen economy value chain.
7. To identify the technical possibilities and potential for development/increase in efficiency of hydrogen technologies in energy sector, including through the development of hybrid systems.
8. Integration of hydrogen technologies into existing generation systems.

Prof Janusz Kotowicz informed about the planned launch of an MBA postgraduate studies "Hydrogen Technologies" at the Silesian University of Technology from the beginning of 2022.

Many representatives of science, politics and business took part in the discussion. The Katowice meeting devoted to the Silesian Hydrogen Valley was held on the International Hydrogen Day.