diff --git a/docs/config-definition.md b/docs/config-definition.md
index a05724ade..00d01836f 100644
--- a/docs/config-definition.md
+++ b/docs/config-definition.md
@@ -86,9 +86,7 @@ No parameters required.
 
 #### persistentVolumeProvider/config
 
-| Key | Type | Default | Meaning |
-| --- | --- | --- | --- |
-| `project` | string | Required Field | *Example*: "project-example-3jsn23"<br><br> See the [Project ID documentation][4] for details. |
+No parameters required.
 
 ### Azure
 
@@ -107,7 +105,6 @@ No parameters required.
 [1]: #gcp
 [2]: #azure
 [3]: http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/using-regions-availability-zones.html#concepts-available-regions
-[4]: https://cloud.google.com/resource-manager/docs/creating-managing-projects#identifying_projects
 [5]: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/regions/
 [6]: #parameter-reference
 [7]: #main-config-parameters
diff --git a/docs/gcp-config.md b/docs/gcp-config.md
index be450ac34..a48310b3f 100644
--- a/docs/gcp-config.md
+++ b/docs/gcp-config.md
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ Specify the following values in the example files:
 
 * In file `examples/gcp/00-ark-config.yaml`:
 
-  * Replace `<YOUR_BUCKET>` and `<YOUR_PROJECT>`. See the [Config definition][7] for details.
+  * Replace `<YOUR_BUCKET>`. See the [Config definition][7] for details.
 
 * In file `examples/common/10-deployment.yaml`:
 
diff --git a/examples/gcp/00-ark-config.yaml b/examples/gcp/00-ark-config.yaml
index 28538aef8..647cb3cd2 100644
--- a/examples/gcp/00-ark-config.yaml
+++ b/examples/gcp/00-ark-config.yaml
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@ metadata:
   name: default
 persistentVolumeProvider:
   name: gcp
-  config:
-    project: <YOUR_PROJECT>
 backupStorageProvider:
   name: gcp
   bucket: <YOUR_BUCKET>
diff --git a/pkg/cloudprovider/gcp/block_store.go b/pkg/cloudprovider/gcp/block_store.go
index 9433433bb..3d5a57da1 100644
--- a/pkg/cloudprovider/gcp/block_store.go
+++ b/pkg/cloudprovider/gcp/block_store.go
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ limitations under the License.
 package gcp
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"io/ioutil"
+	"os"
+
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	uuid "github.com/satori/go.uuid"
 	"golang.org/x/oauth2"
@@ -41,10 +45,9 @@ func NewBlockStore() cloudprovider.BlockStore {
 }
 
 func (b *blockStore) Init(config map[string]string) error {
-	project := config[projectKey]
-
-	if project == "" {
-		return errors.Errorf("missing %s in gcp configuration", projectKey)
+	project, err := extractProjectFromCreds()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
 
 	client, err := google.DefaultClient(oauth2.NoContext, compute.ComputeScope)
@@ -57,7 +60,7 @@ func (b *blockStore) Init(config map[string]string) error {
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
 
-	// validate project
+	// validate connection
 	res, err := gce.Projects.Get(project).Do()
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
@@ -73,6 +76,28 @@ func (b *blockStore) Init(config map[string]string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func extractProjectFromCreds() (string, error) {
+	credsBytes, err := ioutil.ReadFile(os.Getenv("GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS"))
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", errors.WithStack(err)
+	}
+
+	type credentials struct {
+		ProjectID string `json:"project_id"`
+	}
+
+	var creds credentials
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(credsBytes, &creds); err != nil {
+		return "", errors.WithStack(err)
+	}
+
+	if creds.ProjectID == "" {
+		return "", errors.New("cannot fetch project_id from GCP credentials file")
+	}
+
+	return creds.ProjectID, nil
+}
+
 func (b *blockStore) CreateVolumeFromSnapshot(snapshotID, volumeType, volumeAZ string, iops *int64) (volumeID string, err error) {
 	res, err := b.gce.Snapshots.Get(b.project, snapshotID).Do()
 	if err != nil {