Using the potential of resources found in the circular economy, Veolia has been implementing pilot projects relating to environmental protection for years. In accordance with the letter of intent signed with Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, it will now cooperate with the 3W Idea team to raise awareness about the economic potential of water and hydrogen as well as cutting-edge projects and technologies relating to 3W resources, renewable energy, and sustainable development.
The hydrogen revolution is essential for the sustainable energy future of our planet. In Tarnowskie Góry, the company is planning to launch a pilot hydrogen management system using gas recovered from municipal waste treatment as a source of green fuel for municipal and heavy-duty vehicles. This approach brings immediate benefits to the environment and the local communities.
Wojciech Nowak, hydrogen project manager at Veolia, emphasizes the significance of this resource in the energy transformation of our country. – Hydrogen is a key component of the decarbonization system in many branches of the economy, including the energy sector. The hydrogen market is just beginning to take shape in Poland. The effective use of hydrogen technologies largely depends on the implementation of legal regulations at the national level. Appropriate regulations will increase domestic production of environmentally friendly, low-emission hydrogen, which could also translate into increased resilience of countries to fluctuations in natural gas prices.
At 3W Idea we recognize the value of public education, and we appreciate the efforts of Veolia which cooperates with the Silesian University of Technology, where a new MBA study program "Hydrogen Technologies and Energy Transformation" was created. Managers participating in the program are trained on how to optimally manage the production, logistics and storage of energy obtained from various renewable sources in the future.
Towards climate neutrality
The strategy of the Veolia Group assumes a shift away from the use of coal in the production of energy and heat by 2030 and the overall objective is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. – We first intend to replace coal with natural gas so that in the future, as the infrastructure continues to develop, we will be able to use decarbonized gases such as biomethane or low-emission hydrogen – adds Nowak.
Modern and efficient gas units that are being built at the Poznan Karolin Heat and Power Plant are one of the examples of these activities. Thanks to the technology used, it will be possible to power them with hydrogen in the future.
Having access to water is essential for producing hydrogen. The Veolia Group's expertise and technological capabilities make it possible to use water from a variety of sources, including reclaimed wastewater. In 2022, the Group’s companies provided drinking water to 11 million people worldwide and treated waste for 97 million people. Veolia also focuses on water recycling, processing nearly 1 billion m3 of liquid waste. The Group's expertise and technologies ensure the right quality and quantity of water, regardless of its source, for the production of green hydrogen.
Veolia pursues cutting-edge initiatives with a focus on supplying heat from renewable energy sources. One of such projects is the “Heat Plant of the Future” currently being constructed in Lidzbark Warmiński. 90% of the energy used in it is to come from renewable sources. The new plant will supply heat and hot water to most of the buildings in the Astronomów Housing Estate. The total usable area of all residential premises is over 28,000 m2.
Veolia is also actively involved in the digitization of the heating network, which results in greater energy efficiency. The Intelligent District Heating Network in Warsaw, which covers 1,800 km of network and a system for remote monitoring of leaks, is the first example of this kind of solution. With this investment, the Intelligent Heating Network project will be able to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by at least 14.5 thousand tons annually.
Two of the three pillars of the 3W Idea, hydrogen and water, are resources that, if properly used, can contribute significantly to Poland's innovative economy. Veolia is aware of this, so in its strategy, it not only emphasizes the significance of sustainable development but also looks for solutions to some of the biggest environmental challenges, like renewal of resources and boosting energy efficiency.