It is increasingly believed that the use of hydrogen for energy purposes could become widespread in just a decade or so. As a result, global hydrogen consumption is expected to increase threefold or even fourfold by 2050.

“Polska Spółka Gazownictwa is a modern company using the latest technologies, so we want our networks to be ready for hydrogen. One of the challenges we face is the process of adapting the gas network to hydrogen distribution. The project inaugurated today will allow us to prepare for the coming challenges, as a natural consequence of energy transition activities seems to be the use of our network to transport a hydrogen mixture”, added Robert Więckowski, Chairman of the Management Board of Polska Spółka Gazownictwa.

In order to adequately prepare for the challenges, Polska Spółka Gazownictwa will:

• build and commission a separate pilot plant from components obtained from PSG's existing gas network,
• conduct a detailed study of the long-term effects of the mixture of natural gas and hydrogen on distribution network components and selected consuming equipment;
• identify components critical to the safety and proper operation of the gas network in operation in the event of contact with hydrogen.

The research project will run until the end of 2027.