The Role of Renewable Hydrogen in Developing Sustainable Low-Emission Energy Systems in Poland: A Review

Renewable hydrogen is increasingly promoted as a key component of sustainable low-emission energy systems; however, its realistic role remains highly dependent on national system conditions. This review examines under what circumstances renewable hydrogen can effectively contribute to Poland’s low-emission energy transition, given its coal-dominated electricity mix, energy-intensive industrial structure, and evolving regulatory environment. The article adopts a system-oriented review approach that integrates recent European Union and national policy developments, including RED III and related delegated acts, with technological pathways, infrastructure readiness, safety considerations, and sectoral demand. Particular attention is given to electricity–hydrogen–industry coupling and the system-level conditions that determine the technical feasibility, efficiency losses, and economic viability of renewable hydrogen deployment. The review demonstrates that renewable hydrogen in Poland is unlikely to become a universal decarbonization solution. Its effective deployment is conditional on accelerated renewable electricity expansion, coordinated development of hydrogen transport and storage infrastructure, and regulatory alignment with EU frameworks. In the short and medium term, the highest system value lies in substituting fossil-based hydrogen in existing industrial applications, while in the longer-term hydrogen may support system flexibility and the decarbonization of hard-to-electrify sectors. Technology-neutral policy approaches may facilitate early market formation but risk reinforcing technology lock-in effects if maintained in the long term. These findings suggest that renewable hydrogen should be positioned as a complementary element of Poland’s low-emission energy system, requiring targeted, system-integrated policy and investment strategies rather than broad, technology-neutral deployment.