Hydro Sanok, the first local government-run hydrogen company in Poland, has acquired an investor – Hynfra – and is kicking off its operations. The goal is to completely transform Sanok’s energy system based on renewable energy sources and green hydrogen, the city authorities announced on Tuesday during the 15th European Economic Congress in Katowice.
Participants of the conference were: Małgorzata Jarosińska-Jedynak, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy, Mayor of Sanok Tomasz Matuszewski, Deputy Marshal of the Podkarpackie Province Piotr Pilch, General Manager of Sanok’s municipal enterprise Sanockie Przedsiębiorstwo Gospodarki Komunalnej Krzysztof Jarosz and CEO of Hynfra Tomoho Umeda.
Sanok's hydrogen-based energy transformation project is comprehensive in nature, and includes, above all: the construction of own electricity sources (photovoltaic panels), construction of an energy and heat storage facility, construction of a hydrogen electrolysis plant, construction of a hydrogen refueling station and a fast charging station for electric vehicles. The city will also invest in a modern heat pump to reduce carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as in other supporting installations.
“Sanok is consistently implementing its energy transformation plan. This is a crucial step to make change happen and address the existing energy challenges, and also a great opportunity to create a competitive advantage for the city. The plan fits perfectly into the European policy that gives priority to the European Green Deal with its focus on environmentally friendly sectors,” said during the conference Małgorzata Jarosińska-Jedynak, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy.
Thanks to its convenient geological and infrastructural conditions (location along the river San), Sanok is perfectly prepared to go ahead with the hydrogen project. To this end, in 2022, the Sanok municipal enterprise SPGK set up the hydrogen company Hydro Sanok. On April 25, 2023, the name of the minority investor for the project was announced. The selected company is Hynfra P.S.A., the only company to have presented a comprehensive plan for the decarbonization of the local government in Sanok and declared its readiness to participate in this innovative procedure.
The Mayor of Sanok emphasizes that Hynfra guarantees technological expertise and experience in green transformation. The new investor will first draw up a feasibility study that will be the basis for Hydro Sanok to carry out the hydrogen project.
“Energy system transformation at the local level is a critical goal that local governments must strive for today. The Sanok Municipal Office seeks to increase the region’s energy security by reducing the energy intensity of the municipal economy and increasing the share of renewable energy sources,” emphasizes Tomasz Matuszewski, the Mayor of Sanok.
“The Hydrogen Project is highly important for Sanok. As well as being a meaningful step towards sustainable energy development, it is also an opportunity to create new jobs, attract investment and increase the region's innovation and competitiveness,” says Krzysztof Jarosz, General Manager of Sanockie Przedsiębiorstwo Gospodarki Komunalnej Sp. z o. o. and Hydro Sanok Sp. z o.o.
As a technology partner, Hynfra P.S.A. will be responsible for project implementation, concept design and raising financing. One of the first steps will be to prepare a feasibility study that will determine the best roadmap for the project.
“We are happy and proud to be part of this momentous event. This is a model example of how decarbonization should look like at the local government level, with the local community being self-sufficient energy-wise and benefiting from green energy. Sanok residents and their city are rising to a new level – thanks to green reindustrialization, they will have a clean, zero-emission city, with new jobs and a better quality of life. Sanok can be a model for other towns and cities all over Poland, sums up Hynfra’s CEO Tomoho Umeda.