The company PKP Energetyka has announced a tender for the supply of components for the construction of a hydrogen-based energy storage system. It will be the first such solution dedicated to railways in Poland. The concept was developed together with scientists from the University of Zielona Góra under the leadership of Prof. Grzegorz Benysek.

Prof. Benysek emphasizes that the first, innovative microgrid dedicated to the railway sector in Poland will be built in Garbce. It will use the most modern, ecological solutions based on hydrogen. This ecosystem will positively affect not only the stability of the railway power supply system but will also be environmentally friendly, thanks to the production of “green hydrogen”.

The hydrogen system will cooperate with the photovoltaic installation being developed at the traction substation in Garbce, 50 km from Wrocław. Its main task will be to produce, store and burn hydrogen. The hydrogen produced will be 100% “green” as it will be obtained in the electrolysis process thanks to the energy from the sun. The produced gas will be used to supply traction.

According to the project, the system will enable the disconnection of filled hydrogen cylinders, which allows using the produced gas, for example, to power PKP Energetyka trains. The implementation of such technological solutions may be another important step in the development of Polish railways.

PKP Energetyka is one of the largest energy companies in Poland. It is responsible for the reliability and quality of energy supplies for rail transport. The company has been operating since 2001, and since 2015 it has been part of CVC Capital Partners – one of the largest investment funds in the world.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński