Hydrogen Valley Summit
The years 2019–2023 saw hydrogen hailed as the "fuel of the future." However, since 2024, the sector has faced a "hydrogen swing"—a shift from peak optimism to a rigorous market reality check. In 2026, the industry is undergoing a trial by fire. With average CAPEX at €3,050/kW, a financial gap has emerged that subsidies alone cannot bridge. Despite this, hydrogen remains vital for sectors where electrification is unfeasible. Today, Hydrogen Valleys act as a lens focusing systemic challenges: from grid bottlenecks to the lack of Final Investment Decisions (FID). The 3rd Hydrogen Valleys Summit moves beyond theory to address the real barriers: high RES costs, raw material dependency, and the gap between EU ambitions and national capabilities. Our goal is to redefine the conditions necessary for the hydrogen economy to evolve from a costly experiment into a cornerstone of Europe’s energy security and economic sovereignty.
3rd Hydrogen Valley Summit
| March 25, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | MTP PCC | 1st floor OPEN SPACE
Event organizer: Wielkopolska Voivodeship – Host Region of EnergyOn Summit&H2Poland in cooperation with the Wielkopolska Hydrogen Platform
Event moderator: Prof. Robert Przekop, Ph.D., UAM, Wielkopolska Hydrogen Platform
12:00 PM – 12:05 PM | Welcome: Jacek Bogusławski – Member of the Wielkopolska Region
12:05 PM – 12:20 PM | Opening speech
12:20 PM – 1:30 PM | Panel 1: Hydrogen Examination of Conscience – Between Vision and Market
Moderator: Dr. Hab. Grzegorz Tchorek, Prof. University of Warsaw, Institute of Energy – National Research Institute
Panelists:
Torsten Göhler (Deputy Consul General of Germany in Wrocław)
Grzegorz Pawelec (Hydrogen Europe)
Dariusz Kucel (Ministry of Energy)
Wojciech Lach (ORLEN S.A., HySPARK Hydrogen Valley)
Paweł Seremak (Framkraft, Sweden)
Dariusz Kryczka (EY)
Bartłomiej Kupiec (Clean Air Task Force)
The EU energy crisis caused 2025 electricity prices to soar 2-3 times above pre-2021 levels. Since energy accounts for ~70% of electrolysis costs, this surge critically impacts the competitiveness of energy-intensive industries—a factor overlooked in earlier hydrogen targets. For hydrogen to remain a viable decarbonization tool, an honest debate on market realities is required. This session addresses the necessity of low-cost RES, the revision of RED III (RFNBO) assumptions, and technological neutrality, including low-emission gas-to-hydrogen with CCS and biomethane. We will examine new alliances and market protection mechanisms against external competition. The panel serves as a platform to find pathways ensuring the hydrogen economy supports European sovereignty rather than becoming a mere transformation cost.
1:30 PM – 2:40 PM Panel 2: Hydrogen Architecture – Designed Supply Chains – Supplier-Customer Chemistry
Moderator: Prof. Dr. Hab. Eng. Michał Wieczorowski, Poznań University of Technology, Polish Hydrogen Chamber, Greater Poland Hydrogen Platform
Panelists:
Martin Hubeňák (Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Belgium)
Jakub Lubiński (ORLEN S.A.)
Marek Elert (EUROPOL GAZ SA Transit Gas Pipeline System)
Maciej Szymański (STER)
Simo Säynevirta (ABB)
Henryk Kubiczek (Grupa Azoty)
Bartłomiej Kupiec (Clean Air Task Force)
Vitaly Ivanov (Bosch)
Designing hydrogen architecture is a complex logistical challenge. The goal is to ensure cost-competitiveness for industry and transport. Port logistics experts and infrastructure operators will discuss European market models, focusing on large-scale maritime hubs as import gateways integrated with terrestrial grids. We will analyze the specific needs of the chemical sector and heavy-duty transport, addressing critical barriers: technical storage bottlenecks, regulatory uncertainty, and investment bankability. Participants will explore risk-sharing models between producers and off-takers. The key question remains: can Europe build an efficient "just-in-time" delivery system to secure its industrial future?
2:40 PM – 3:40 PM | Panel 3: Hydrogen Infrastructure: An Economic Engine for International Cooperation
Panel in cooperation with the Baltic Sea Region Hydrogen Council
Moderator:Ain Laidoja (Estonian Hydrogen Association)
Panelists:
Bjorn Aronsson (Vätgas Sverige, Sweden)
Agnieszka Ozga (GAZ-SYSTEM)
Marko Janhunen (Gasgrid Finland)
Katarzyna Faruga (HZwo, Germany)
Aivars Starikovs (Latvian Hydrogen Association)
Walerian Majewski (Nexus Consultants, Polish Hydrogen Chamber)
In cooperation with the Baltic Sea Region Hydrogen Council, this panel explores hydrogen’s role in Baltic economic integration. Experts from Finland, the Baltics, Poland, and Germany will analyze the value chain from production to industrial use. Special focus is placed on the Wielkopolska Region and Poland's broader potential to become a regional pillar of supply security through salt cavern storage. We will discuss leveraging the North’s production capacity, Poland’s transit/storage infrastructure, and German-Polish industrial demand. Success depends on strategic coordination and scaling demand to build a resilient, transnational energy market.
3:40 PM – 4:40 PM | Panel 4: Local Energy Autonomy – Where is the Place for Hydrogen?
Moderator: Dr. Eng. Radosław Szczerbowski, Greater Poland Hydrogen Platform
Panelists:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Przemyslaw Komarnicki (University of Magdeburg-Stendal, Germany)
Waldemar G. Roszak (ZE PAK S.A.)
Prof. Andrzej Białowiec, PhD (Lower Silesian Hydrogen Valley)
Andrzej Węgrzyn, PhD (Lubusz Hydrogen and Biomethane Association H2OZE)
As national grids struggle to integrate RES, local governments and energy communities are seeking independence. This debate explores the synergy between hydrogen and other technologies. Is it a "budget war" against batteries and biogas, or a necessary partnership? While hydrogen is often seen as a future prospect, it must find its place alongside heat pumps and biomethane to stabilize local systems. We will evaluate if decentralization is a viable path given current grid failures. The analysis covers hydrogen as a key component of the energy mix, emphasizing the role of local leadership in building energy awareness and resilience.
4:40 PM – 5:00 PM | The Marshal of the Wielkopolska Region Award: "Wielkopolska for Planet 2030"
Presented by Jacek Bogusławski, Member of the Board of the Wielkopolska Region. Honoring excellence in "Science" and "Business" for sustainable development and innovative student projects within Smart Specializations.
Organiser:
