TOWARDS ENHANCING POLAND’S ENERGY SECURITY. THE USE OF BIOMETHANE, BIOGAS AND HYDROGEN IN THE POLISH GAS INDUSTRY. CURRENT SITUATION AND PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE (SYSTEMATIC REVIEW)

What is it about?

The gas network in Poland offers considerable potential, and the European Commission has ambitious plans to achieve climate neutrality by reducing CO2 emissions by 2050. Heating systems in buildings are expected to be based on renewable energy sources, natural gas enriched with hydrogen or biomethane. In 2050, surplus electricity generated from renewable energy sources is to be used to produce hydrogen ecologically, which can be transmitted, among other things, via gas networks. The purpose of the article is to discuss the current situation, plans and prospects for the use of biomethane, biogas, and hydrogen in the Polish gas industry from the perspective of environmental engineering, mining, the energy industry, and energy security. The adopted research methodology includes a review of the relevant literature, the analysis of publicly available quantitative and qualitative data, and selected elements of comparative research. Preparations for integrating renewable hydrogen will significantly affect the development of the distribution network and the implementation of new technologies. The modernisation of the transportation system is anticipated to be based on lowemission technologies, including bioLNG. The biofuel sector will rely, among other things, on biogas in the gas industry. The following factors will be of key importance between 2026 and 2030 in the process of injecting biomethane into Poland’s gas grid: shared understanding and addressing technical barriers faced by biomethane plant investors and gas network operators, creating favourable legal regulations, adapting the existing transmission and distribution infrastructure to ensure the safe transmission of biomethane, and ensuring compliance with quality requirements. It can be assumed that by the time the first nuclear power plant becomes operational in Poland, natural gas will be used in the Polish economy at least on a scale similar to that observed today.

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Photo by Spencer DeMera on Unsplash

Photo by Spencer DeMera on Unsplash