Natural hydrogen in Poland: from geological ideas to exploration licensing.
PresentationNational Regulations & Country Opportunities
2025-11-13 | 04:30 PM - 05:00 PM | Conference Room 2
Abstract
Natural hydrogen occurs as a free gas or gas dissolved in water across various geological formations in Poland. It has been observed in at least several hundred of over 20 000 deep wells drilled in the country. Natural hydrogen appears in Cambrian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Permian Rotliegend, and Permian Zechstein Main Dolomite formations on the Polish Lowland, as well as in the Miocene of the Carpathian Foredeep, the Outer Carpathian flysch and the Palaeozoic-Mesozoic basement of the Carpathians. Natural hydrogen also was found as admixtures in Polish gas fields.
Since the beginning of 2024, Polish Geological Survey has been conducting a project dedicated to assessing natural hydrogen exploration potential in Poland. The project aims to better understanding the origin of hydrogen admixtures and occurrences in different geological and tectonic settings. The project also helps to identify the most prospective areas for further exploration. So far, the most promising results have been obtained from the Lower Permian volcanic succession, where free hydrogen concentrations of up to 5% by volume have been detected. However, at this early stage of the global natural hydrogen boom, it should be emphasized that great success would be the near-future discovery of natural gas field (about 200–500 million cubic meters) containing 10–20% by volume natural hydrogen admixture – sufficient for technically feasible hydrogen separation.
In Poland there are currently no licenses for natural hydrogen exploration. However, such licenses can be issued under the same legal framework as for oil and gas exploration and exploitation. They may be obtained either through an open door procedure at the request of an interested entity, or via an international tender organized by the Ministry Of Climate and Environment. The concession authority is not planning such a tender at the moment, and the initiative is left to potential investors.
