Polenergia, Poland’s largest private energy group, has conducted the country’s first tests of hydrogen co-combustion.
The tests, held at the Nowa Sarzyna Cogeneration Plant in Podkarpacie, mark a significant advancement in the country’s energy sector. Alongside this achievement, Polenergia received a building permit for the H2HUB Nowa Sarzyna hydrogen project aiming to produce green hydrogen using a 5 MW electrolyzer. Iwona Sierżęga, a member of the Management Board, emphasized the goal of using green hydrogen for emission-free applications in transport, heating, and eventually electricity production.
The tests at the Nowa Sarzyna Plant involved co-combustion of hydrogen with natural gas in a gas turbine not initially designed for hydrogen use. This innovative approach achieved a hydrogen volumetric concentration of 15% in the fuel, surpassing the initial 10% target. Mirosław Rokicki, Technical Director at the plant, highlighted the importance of safely mixing and combusting hydrogen with natural gas as a critical step toward zero-emission energy production. This effort aligns with Polenergia’s larger goal of achieving zero emissions by 2040.
The tests were conducted using grey hydrogen transported by battery trucks. However, the future focus is to rely on green hydrogen produced through electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources. The integration of green hydrogen is central to Polenergia’s strategy of leading Poland’s renewable energy sector. The company is involved in several initiatives, including the H2Silesia project for large-scale hydrogen production and the recently permitted H2HUB Nowa Sarzyna project.
