Gaz-System seeks EU support for hydrogen infrastructure in Poland

Poland's state-owned gas grid operator Gaz-System said it has applied for obtaining a project of common interest (PCI) status for three hydrogen infrastructure facilities to make them eligible for EU funding.

The projects include a corridor for hydrogen transport from Finland, through the Baltic states and Poland to Germany, infrastructure connecting domestic hydrogen producers and a hydrogen storage in Damaslawek, the central Wielkopolskie province, the company said on Friday.

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PCIs link the energy systems of EU countries and can benefit from accelerated permitting procedures and funding under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

The revised regulation on trans-European networks in energy (TEN-E) provides for granting a PCI status to facilities creating an integrated European hydrogen infrastructure, Gaz-System noted, adding that it will be able to file for CEF co-financing after the new PCI list is adopted by the EU institutions in the autumn of 2023.

Gaz-System operates Poland's major natural gas pipelines and owns the LNG terminal at the Baltic port of Swinoujscie. Gaz-system pointed out that its projects have been in line with the priorities of the EU policy in natural gas infrastructure, which has been confirmed by their place in the existing PCI lists.