Polish Briefing: The Bełchatów Power Plant is already working | Rzeszów is to become the heart of a “Hydrogen Valley”

What goes on in Poland on the 19th of May.

The Bełchatów Power Plant is already working

Polska Grupa Energetyczna Górnictwo i Energetyka Konwencjonalna (PGE GiEK) has informed that the shutdown of units at the Bełchatów Power Plant was not caused by a failure on the site of the power plant. The units automatically shut down – as they should – after the failure of the switching station of Polskie Sieci Energetyczne in Rogowiec, located a few kilometers from the power plant. PGE GiEK has reported that thanks to the implemented crisis procedures and professionalism of PGE GiEK employees, the units of the Bełchatów Power Plant were quickly brought back online. Currently, the Bełchatów Power Plant is working with the capacity compliant with the demand reported by the Transmission System Operator.

Rzeszów is to become the heart of the “Subcarpathian Hydrogen Valley”

The use of economically innovative and environmentally beneficial hydrogen technologies is the main goal of the creation of the “Podkarpackie Hydrogen Valley”. Its development will use the potential of the city of Rzeszów and the region in terms of modern technologies, build a place where fuel cells and hydrogen buses will be produced, and low-emission hydrogen will be used on a large scale. On May 18, 2021, a letter of intent was signed in Jasionka for the creation of the Hydrogen Valley in Podkarpacie.

“The overriding goal of the government is to build and develop the Polish economy based on hydrogen. This will allow us to achieve climate neutrality, maintain the competitiveness of the Polish economy, and at the same time take advantage of our current leading role as a hydrogen producer. The energy transition ahead of us brings development opportunities for entire regions,” Mateusz Morawiecki, Poland’s Prime Minister, said.

“Investments in hydrogen provide an opportunity for developing the domestic industry, acquiring specialized competences by employees, creating new jobs, generating added value for the national economy and strengthening the local economic potential,” Michał Kurtyka, the Minister of Climate and Environment, emphasized.