The event was organised on the initiative of Governor of the Szczecin Province Zbigniew Bogucki. The ceremony was attended by Minister of Climate and Environment Anna Moskwa, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Climate and Environment Małgorzata Golińska, Secretary of State and Government Representative for Renewable Energy Ireneusz Zyska. During the signing ceremony the Grupa Azoty Group was represented by President of the Management Board of Grupa Azoty S.A. Tomasz Hinc and Vice President of the Management Board of Grupa Azoty S.A. Grzegorz Kądzielawski.

In addition to the Grupa Azoty Group companies, the other signatories to the letter of intent included the Governor of the Szczecin Province, the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, the Provincial Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management of Szczecin, Zarząd Morskich Portów Szczecin i Świnoujście, Enea S.A., Enea Operator, Agencja Rozwoju Przemysłu S.A., the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, the University of Szczecin, the Maritime University of Technology in Szczecin, the Koszalin University of Technology, and the Łukasiewicz Research Network.

‘The establishment of the West Pomeranian Hydrogen Valley attests to the growing interest in hydrogen. The collaboration between the government and representatives of the energy industry, scientific community and NGOs is vital in this context. We are the third largest hydrogen producer in the European Union and the fifth largest globally. I am confident the efforts we undertake at the regional and central levels will contribute to promoting adoption of hydrogen technologies across the power generation, transport and industrial sectors globally,’ said Climate and Environment Minister Anna Moskwa.

‘Diversification of energy sources is a huge challenge, but it’s also a cornerstone of Poland’s economic growth and sovereignty. Thinking about the future of Poland and West Pomerania, in addition to the LNG terminal and the Baltic Pipe pipeline providing access to fossil hydrocarbons, which are already operational, we also focus on alternative energy sources, such as carbon-free and low-carbon hydrogen. I believe that combining the economic potential of state-owned companies with the scientific achievements of West Pomeranian universities and the experience, know-how, technologies and resources of the signatories will facilitate the formation of the West Pomeranian Hydrogen Valley. Today, we also join the ranks of regions implementing Poland’s Hydrogen Strategy,’ said Governor of the Szczecin Province Zbigniew Bogucki.

In the letter of intent signed today, the signatories pledged to work together to create business and technological conditions conducive to the development of a hydrogen economy in the Province of Szczecin. The agreement will support the development of renewable energy sources in the region both in terms of the scale of deployment and use of surplus energy for the production of green hydrogen. The signatories will undertake efforts to create conditions conducive to conducting business involving the development and advancement of a hydrogen economy and hydrogen-supported energy optimisation in the Province of Szczecin.

‘As the largest hydrogen producer in Poland, the Grupa Azoty Group naturally participates in yet another initiative seeking to build a hydrogen economy in Poland. The Province of Szczecin has great potential in hydrogen technology. I’m referring to the Police Seaport, with its new gas terminal and the chemical cargo port that are being built and expanded for the needs of the Polimery Police project, which is bound to drive the expansion of the Grupa Azoty Group’s hydrogen production capacity. From 2023, the annual hydrogen output at Grupa Azoty Police and Grupa Azoty Polyolefins is to exceed 120,000 tonnes. Importantly, ports are expected to play a key role in the energy transition, therefore the Police Seaport may play a key role in this respect for our region, becoming a green commodities hub for green hydrogen and green ammonia,’ said Tomasz Hinc, President of the Management Board of Grupa Azoty S.A.

As a leader and major producer of renewable energy in Poland, the region of West Pomerania is the right place offering the natural potential for the development of hydrogen projects,’ noted Paweł Majewski, Enea CEO. ‘The region is home to numerous initiatives and scientific research projects seeking to develop and use alternative energy sources. Alongside nuclear energy, hydrogen is emerging as a sought-after fuel of the future, a promising source that has the potential to become a key element of the energy transition. By initiating the formation of the West Pomeranian Hydrogen Valley, we contribute to bringing Poland closer to climate neutrality, a goal we are striving for with future generations in mind,’ added Mr Majewski.

The specific character of West Pomerania, combined with the competencies of our researchers, give us a detailed insight into both industrial and environmental aspects of the climate challenges. The robot is and will be at the centre of the machine-human collaboration in the factory of the future. As part of our research we upgrade machinery and equipment to enable automation, and we design telecommunications and power systems. We develop energy transmission networks with hydrogen buffering and new generations of electric drives. For the West Pomeranian Hydrogen Valley to operate effectively, further scientific research of green technologies and collaboration with business will be vital. Most of our research is geared towards driving a technologically green Poland,’ explained Rector of the West Pomeranian University of Technology, dr hab. inż. Jacek Wróbel, professor of the University.

The signatories of the letter of intent reiterated they will continue and deepen the existing collaboration in hydrogen collection, compression, purification and transport, the safety of hydrogen systems, including system monitoring and permeability reduction, and production of composite pressure vessels.

In the letter of intent, the parties declared their intention to foster collaboration between business and the education, research and academic communities in establishing patronage classes, running postgraduate programmes dealing with the hydrogen economy chain, and organising and conducting a certified industry-specific training programme.