Poland’s transmission system operator GAZ-SYSTEM has finalised the Hydrogen Map of Poland study, which analysed 178 projects related to hydrogen production, consumption, distribution and storage across the country.
The study aimed to assess the estimated potential of Poland’s future hydrogen market and identify potential hubs of activity by province. The gathered data will serve as the foundation for further work to define market demand for hydrogen transmission services.
The findings revealed that domestic hydrogen production is expected to rise significantly from 2030, stabilising at 1.11 million tons annually by 2040. Most of the projects are concentrated in the northwest of the country. Hydrogen consumption is also projected to increase, reaching 1.27 million tons in 2030 and growing to 2.62 million tons by 2040, with demand strongest in the central and southwest regions.
A comparison of production and consumption data indicates a potential shortfall in domestic production relative to demand. This could necessitate hydrogen imports of approximately 0.8 million tons in 2030, rising to 1.4 million tons in 2040, or require increased domestic production to bridge the gap.
The primary barriers to market development include the lack of hydrogen transmission infrastructure and limited collaboration between hydrogen producers and consumers.
“There is much work and many challenges ahead. The year 2025 will be particularly intensive for the company, especially in the area of energy transformation,” said Sławomir Hinc, President of the Management Board of GAZ-SYSTEM. “On 12 December this year, an amendment to the Energy Law was signed, introducing regulations for the hydrogen sector into the legal framework. This step will help remove obstacles to the hydrogen market’s development and reduce investment uncertainty. In the near future, GAZ-SYSTEM plans to integrate stakeholders in the emerging hydrogen market, facilitating information exchange and collaboration between producers and consumers. We will also work on the concept of a National Hydrogen Network and the preparation of feasibility studies for hydrogen transmission infrastructure.”
Survey participants emphasised that decisions regarding hydrogen projects in both production and consumption segments depend heavily on the development and design of Poland’s hydrogen transmission network as early as 2030–2035. To ensure the effective development of the hydrogen market, it is necessary to design a comprehensive “architecture” that connects production capacity with consumption needs. The study reveals a lack of collaboration between hydrogen producers and consumers, underscoring the importance of fostering cooperation. Distributed production facilities located in similar regions could be consolidated into hydrogen hubs, providing optimal technical and economic solutions.
Following the conclusion of the survey, GAZ-SYSTEM will organise workshops for participants of the Hydrogen Map of Poland study. These sessions will present the study’s findings and outline GAZ-SYSTEM’s planned activities. It will continue engaging with individual survey participants to update project data and ensure the accuracy of future analyses. To facilitate collaboration between hydrogen producers and consumers, GAZ-SYSTEM plans to introduce tools or platforms for information exchange and networking. The company will advance its analytical work to develop an initial concept for the National Hydrogen Network and will begin preparing feasibility studies for key elements of the hydrogen transmission infrastructure, both domestically and for cross-border connections.