Gravity energy storage in Poland: PLN 447 million investment near Wrocław

One of Poland’s first gravity energy storage facilities is under construction near Wrocław as part of a PLN 447 million green hydrogen production complex. The PROMET-PLAST project in Gaj Oławski will combine a 5 MW/35 MWh gravity storage system, renewable energy installations and electrolysers with a total capacity of 21 MW. Annual hydrogen production is expected to reach approximately 1,700 tonnes, with construction scheduled for completion by 30 September 2027.

Construction has begun on one of Poland’s first gravity energy storage facilities near Wrocław, forming part of a larger green hydrogen production complex. The PROMET-PLAST investment in Gaj Oławski is valued at nearly PLN 447 million and includes energy storage, renewable energy installations and electrolysers with a combined capacity of 21 MW. Annual hydrogen production is expected to reach approximately 1,700 tonnes, with construction scheduled for completion on 30 September 2027.

The gravity energy storage project in Poland demonstrates how several energy technologies can be integrated within a single industrial facility. The system is designed to store surplus electricity generated by solar and wind installations, allowing it to be used for hydrogen production or converted back into electricity when needed.

The investment illustrates how Polish industrial companies can develop their own energy infrastructure, reduce dependence on external electricity suppliers and prepare for growing demand for low-carbon fuels.

What is being built in Gaj Oławski near Wrocław?

Construction has begun on an energy complex worth nearly PLN 447 million in Gaj Oławski, Lower Silesia, Poland. The investor is PROMET-PLAST, a medical products manufacturer that has also been developing its own solar and wind energy installations for several years.

ELQ S.A., based in Częstochowa, has been appointed as the general contractor, responsible for designing, constructing and commissioning the installations.

The most distinctive element of the project will be its gravity energy storage tower. According to preliminary plans, the structure could reach a height of up to 212 metres, comparable to Wrocław’s Sky Tower.

Two such towers are ultimately planned, although only the first is currently under construction. The final structural specifications have not yet been officially confirmed.

Key investment figures

The project is receiving financial support from Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK), Poland’s national development bank, under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (KPO).

How does gravity energy storage work?

Gravity energy storage uses the gravitational potential energy of heavy blocks lifted to a specified height. Unlike conventional battery storage systems, it relies on mechanical energy storage rather than electrochemical reactions.

When solar and wind installations generate more electricity than is currently needed, the surplus power operates mechanisms that lift concrete blocks. During periods of higher electricity demand, the blocks are gradually lowered. Their movement drives generators that convert the stored energy back into electricity.

According to project information, the storage system will use blocks weighing approximately 60 tonnes each.

PROMET-PLAST’s project documentation specifies a gravity energy storage system with a power output of 5 MW and a storage capacity of 35 MWh, equivalent to a seven-hour discharge cycle. The structure is designed to accommodate 1,415 reinforced concrete blocks, each weighing 60 tonnes.

One advantage of this approach is the ability to store electricity without relying on large lithium-ion battery systems. However, the technology requires substantial structural and mechanical infrastructure, together with dedicated control systems.

Why will the gravity energy storage facility be integrated with green hydrogen production?

The primary objective of the overall investment is to produce hydrogen using renewable electricity. The gravity storage facility will support the management of electricity generated by the site’s solar and wind installations.

The Gaj Oławski complex will include electrolysers with a combined capacity of 21 MW. According to the investor’s plans, these installations are expected to produce approximately 1.7 million kilograms of hydrogen annually.

Electrolysis uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The project aims to produce hydrogen that meets the requirements for renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO). Hydrogen produced under these conditions can be used in the chemical industry, industrial processes and transport, among other applications.

Combining electrolysers with on-site renewable energy generation and storage makes it easier to align electricity consumption with fluctuating solar and wind output. However, this integration does not make the facility completely independent of weather conditions.

What does the PLN 447 million investment mean for Polish industry?

The Gaj Oławski project demonstrates that investment in advanced energy infrastructure is not limited to major energy corporations. Private industrial companies are also developing large-scale energy projects in Poland.

For companies considering expanding their operations in Poland, three aspects are particularly relevant: the potential to integrate on-site renewable energy generation with energy storage, the use of hydrogen in industrial processes, and access to financing for energy transition projects.

Nevertheless, integrating these technologies does not automatically guarantee commercial viability. Key factors include construction and operating costs, storage efficiency, renewable electricity availability and the ability to sell the hydrogen produced.

When will the gravity energy storage facility near Wrocław become operational?

According to the contractor’s schedule, construction work and the submission of documentation required to obtain an occupancy permit are planned for completion by 30 September 2027. This does not necessarily mean that full-scale hydrogen production will begin on that date.If the project proceeds as planned, Lower Silesia will gain an industrial-scale energy complex combining renewable electricity generation, mechanical energy storage and hydrogen production.