HYDROGEN

grey hydrogen in industrial consumption,"

explained Arnošt Gross. The pilot project

will also be used to test and optimise the

technology and to obtain data and insights

for future development.

Hydrogen will play an important role

in the coming years in the so-called

decarbonisation of the world economy

and the Moravian-Silesian Region is

also betting on it. That is why Veolia is

cooperating on the Hydrogen Cluster

platform with the region, VSB - Technical

University of Ostrava and other entities

with the aim of joining the activities

to kick-start the hydrogen economy in

the Moravian-Silesian Region. "The task

of the cluster is to coordinate individual

hydrogen projects in order to create

a coherent hydrogen economy as

a new, highly sophisticated sector of

the economy and transform our industry

into a new modern form. I am pleased

that Veolia is becoming a key player in our

intention to build the first Czech hydrogen

valley and develop the production and use

of hydrogen," said Jakub Unucka, Deputy

Governor of the Moravian-Silesian Region.

Hydrogen for Both Buses and Trains

The Moravian-Silesian Region wants to

deploy almost three hundred hydrogen

buses on selected lines in the region

within seven years and hydrogen trains

are also planned, especially in the section

in the Jeseníky Mountains where

electrification of the lines is not available.

Veolia is currently preparing documentation

for the project in Frýdek-Místek for zoning

and building permits and other necessary

requirements for the investment project.

The actual construction of the 2 MW

electrolyser is expected to take place in

2025 and the start of production is planned

for early 2026.

The VOZARTEK project has received

a grant from the EU Innovation Fund and

has thus become the first hydrogen project

in the Czech Republic to be subsidised

from this fund. "Of course, we are very

pleased, it is an appreciation of our work

on the preparation of the hydrogen

project. We are all learning, there are

just a few references in Central Europe so

far, so I am glad that the willingness and

helpfulness of the permitting authorities is

prevailing," added Arnošt Gross.

Linking hydrogen production with

existing heating technologies, possibly

supplemented by the use of other

renewable sources, has a number of

advantages. Firstly, green hydrogen

can be produced reliably throughout

the year, but it can also provide

the support services needed to balance

fluctuations in the electricity grid. There

is also the advantage that the waste heat

generated from hydrogen production can

be used in a CHP cycle, which will further

improve the efficiency of production.

Linking hydrogen

production with existing

heating technologies,

possibly supplemented by

the use of other renewable

sources, has a number of

advantages.

In the future, Veolia plans to produce

hydrogen in other heating plants, for

example in Krnov, Přerov or Karviná.

The produced hydrogen can be

consumed at hydrogen refuelling stations

or transported by large-capacity transport

for further use. Veolia will work with local

companies, transporters, educational

institutions, as well as cities and regions to

develop these new technologies.

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