Hydrogen
Hydrogen is undoubtedly the fuel of the future. Almost the whole world sees its extraordinary potential and sees a way to move away from fossil fuels. Małopolska also sees it and wants to use it for the benefit of its domestic companies and the entire region.
The regional council of the Małopolska Voivodeship adopted a resolution establishing the Małopolska Centre of Innovative Hydrogen Storage and Transport Technologies. Its creation is a natural and calculated continuation of activities aimed at gradually building a Małopolska hydrogen ecosystem, which will significantly enhance innovation in the region. These activities also remain consistent with the development goals of selected regional smart specialisations - primarily Sustainable Energy and Chemistry.
The Małopolska Centre of Innovative Hydrogen Storage Technologies is an initiative that is implicitly intended to integrate entities from the business community, research community, business support institutions or administration in supporting and developing hydrogen technologies in Małopolska. Hydrogen has great potential to act as an important link in the process of reducing C02 emissions caused mainly by the use of fossil fuels and thus positively influence the level of energy security in Małopolska and have a positive impact on the environment. At the same time, it can provide an important source of energy to power Małopolska's public spaces and households.
It is no coincidence that the centre refers in its name to hydrogen storage technologies, as this is an essential component of the hydrogen value chain. Many institutions, including those in Małopolska, focus on the production or use of hydrogen in industrial processes, although in order to fully exploit the potential of these technologies, it is necessary to develop and verify solutions for the proper transport and storage of hydrogen, which are not yet available in our country.
In addition to its integrating and networking function, the Centre intends to support local entrepreneurs who want to develop hydrogen technologies or technologies that are part of the broader hydrogen value chain. Its activity is intended not only to fulfil the assumptions of the Polish Hydrogen Strategy, but also to contribute to further strengthening the voice of Małopolska on the international arena as a real and professional partner in research and development projects. In this respect, the institution's priority role will be to acquire grants for the development of hydrogen technologies in Małopolska related to the specialisation and related fields resulting from the Centre's name.
An important area of the Centre's activity will also remain the sphere of education and promotion, consisting of making residents and potential partners aware of the beneficial changes that switching to hydrogen technologies entails in the long term in the context of maintaining energy security and caring for the ecosystem.
