Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego develops the 3W ecosystem with Polish companies active in the field of water, hydrogen and carbon

3W is an initiative of the Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego that emerged in 2021 and concentrates on supporting the world of science and business in developing modern technologies in the field of water, hydrogen and carbon, applied in industry, energy and medicine.

The 3W initiative is a method of transition to a zero-emission economy through applying technologies related to water, hydrogen and carbon. According to BGK, business, science, administration and society should build the strategy of green transformation around them, owing to which the Polish economy will become more competitive and innovative.

The companies with which BGK signed first letters of intent in the 3W area include: Food4Future Technologies, Nanoseen, Smart Nanotechnologies, Ścieki Polskie and WTT S.A. Modern solutions developed by these companies will bring Poland closer to achieving better, safer and more sustainable economy.

At BGK we have recognised the potential in three key resources: water, hydrogen and carbon. We began with consolidating the community and reaching potential stakeholders with a message that we are ready - speaking figuratively - to open the umbrella over the projects from the 3W area. We have cemented common goals with the representatives of the business world through signing the letters of intent - says Adam Żelezik, Director of the Strategic Initiatives Office of BGK.

Water - source of life

It is a valuable resource to be managed in a thoughtful way, especially when faced with dramatically changing climate. The food industry is in the lead when it comes to the amounts water used for production. Food4Future Technologies - one of the signatories of the letters of intent, works on modern solutions that will allow producing food within systems involving a closed water circuit, where the water consumption is limited to a minimum level. Moreover, Food4Future Technologies is building an aquaponic farm which is far more efficient compared to traditional agriculture. It can reduce water consumption by as much as 90%!

Another face of water

Challenges around water not only concern its shortage or expansion of the retention systems, but also monitoring and controlling liquid waste. One of the main sources of water pollution, apart from industrial wastewater, is municipal wastewater. In the late 2021 the Supreme Audit Office published a report which indicated that over 90% of wastewater from holding tanks was released to the environment in an untreated form. Another company that cooperates with BGK - Ścieki Polskie - benefited from the digitalisation potential and created software for tracking wastewater from a household to a treatment plant. The software developed by Ścieki Polskie is used not only by wastewater collection companies and regular household users, but most of all by communes upon which rests the statutory obligation of supervising the liquid waste circuit.

Hydrogen - the fuel of the future

Climate change also requires investments in modern and renewable energy sources - therefore hydrogen plays its part the 3W initiative, as it is dubbed the fuel of the future. The green, zero-emission one is especially significant for the environment protection. How can we obtain it? WTT S.A. has developed a ZEWE technology that allows complete elimination of waste. The solution is all the more groundbreaking as large amounts of this element can be sourced from waste. Even 100 kg of hydrogen can be obtained from 1 ton of waste.

Will carbon save the world?

The 3W concept consistently assimilates this element and presents it in the light of modern carbon technologies. Nanoseen - another company that has joined the 3W world - can be an example. Its nanomembranes for purification and desalinisation of water are the world’s first solution than can help eliminate the water crisis on our planet. They neither require additional power nor pressure to operate - the force of gravity is all that is needed. In its projects, Nanoseen uses different carbon-based nanomaterials.

Another 3W partner - Smart Nanotechnologies - is also familiar with them. This company makes use of the potential offered by, among others, graphene, fullerenes or nanotubes. The latter are contained in very light and resilient structural composites with electromagnetic radiation absorbing properties. They are also a part of biosensors integrated with clothing that serve the purpose of monitoring vital functions of chronically ill patients and offer a chance for revolutionising health care in the future.

3W at the European Economic Congress in Katowice on 26 April

What does the rational use of three resources - water, hydrogen and carbon - look like in the context of innovation and competitiveness of the Polish economy? What benefits are offered by investments in the 3W sector for the world of business? These questions will be discussed by representatives of signatories of the letters of intent during the European Economic Congress in Katowice on 26 April, 15:30, as part of the panel “Resources of the Future - Why Should Business Rely on 3W?” You can enroll [here]. Feel welcome to join!

The 3W initiative of Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego focuses on 3 key substances that form the basis of life on the Earth: Water, Hydrogen and Carbon (3W in Polish). 3W supports the world of science, business and administration in developing modern technologies applied in industry, energy and medicine. Its goal is to build and integrate the community of talented scientist, ambitious students, bold entrepreneurs, visionary non-governmental organisations and responsible representatives of the public sector and financial institutions as well as to boost social actvity.