Greater Poland Energy Valley consists of five counties: City of Konin, Konin, Koło, Turek and Słupca Counties and encompasses 43 municipalities and 15 cities. The region consciously enters the process of power transformation, moving further from coal-fired power and closer to renewable energy sources and new technologies. The actions undertaken to provide a clean and ecological industry is what drives local representatives and entrepreneurs.
What makes us stand out?
Focus on the green energy sources
Communication accessibility
High-potential human assets
Access to EU funds
Yesterday
Greater Poland Energy Valley is a place that generates energy. Opencast mining of the lignite deposits gave rise to the mining industry.
Following their steps, Zespół Elektrowni Pątnów-Adamów-Konin (ZE PAK) has been created. The area became specialised in the coal-burning based energy industry. For years, an aluminium smelter, a Paten Fuel Plant, as well as machinery and equipment for mining company operated there. Spatial development of the area, as well as the employment and education structure, have been dominated by the mining and energy industries. However, the depletion of the lignite deposits and the willingness to switch to a low-carbon economy is posing new challenges to this subregion. It is crucial to ensure job posts and secure the local governments from losing tax revenues.
Today
The willingness to face the challenges of transformation brought the Greater Poland Energy Valley initiative to life. Its name and statement mission refer back to the industrial traditions of the region. It respects the inhabitants’ identity and their connection to power industries. However, it wants to contribute to the substantial change in the way the energy is generated. The inhabitants, entrepreneurs and local governments will be involved in the fair process of transformation and change towards the use of environmentally clean power sources.
Tomorrow
The Greater Poland Energy Valley is closely connected to the ambitious plans created as a part of the Wielkopolska Platforma Wodorowa. A few projects with the innovative use of hydrogen are said to be located in the area. One of them is to create the H2Lav - Centrum Zastosowania Wodoru in Konin. Another assumes establishing a fleet of green hydrogen-powered buses by the PKS company. Buses like that are already being produced in the capital of Greater Poland under the name Solaris Hydrogen. They allow for travelling up to 350 km and run on electric power generated in hydrogen cells. What is interesting is that the only side product of the chemical reaction powering the vehicle is water. Zespół Elektrowni Pątnów-Adamów-Konin is also planning to use hydrogen for energy production.
Our shared mission statement is:
The reinforcement of the economic, innovative and social potential of the Konin subregion for the benefit of the sustainable development and the quality-of-life improvement.
And the vision to which we aspire states:
We, as the Greater Poland Energy Valley, want to become the leaders in the innovative power industry.