Hydrogen, the Fuel of the Future, Has Its Centre in Brno
66 ǀ POSITIV HYDROGEN
VODÍK
Hydrogen,
the Fuel of the Future,
Has Its Centre in Brno
Hydrogen is one of the key pillars of transport decarbonisaon, and the Czech Republic has
its own agship instuon in this eld – the Transport Research Centre (CDV). It coordinates
the Naonal Centre for Hydrogen Mobility, develops unique technologies for monitoring fuel purity
and fast vehicle refuelling, and manages the data infrastructure for the enre hydrogen ecosystem
in the Czech Republic. We spoke about its achievements and acvies with Mgr. Roman Ličbinský,
Ph.D., Director of the Division of sustainable transport and transport structures diagnoscs
and the project’s principal invesgator.
CDV is regarded as a key institution in the field
of mobility. What role does hydrogen play in its
strategy, and what exactly is the National Centre
for Hydrogen Mobility (NAHYC-m) project?
Within our Division of sustainable transport
and transport structures diagnostics, we see hydrogen
as one of the most important pillars of decarbonisation,
particularly in segments where battery-based solutions
are reaching their limits. The National Centre
for Hydrogen Mobility (NAHYC-m) project, which
is co-financed with state support from the Technology
Agency of the Czech Republic under the National
Centres of Competence Programme and coordinated
by CDV, is an ambitious platform bringing
together the public sector, cutting-edge academic
research and strategic industrial partners. Our aim
between 2023 and 2028 is to contribute through specific
research and development activities to the real-world
application of hydrogen technologies. The Centre
focuses on the entire value chain, from hydrogen
production and storage through to the development
of infrastructure for both long-distance and island
transport. We work to minimise legislative barriers
and formulate objectives for national strategic
documents such as the Czech Hydrogen Strategy.
One of your undeniable successes is the project
focusing on so-called “island solutions”. Could you
tell us more about its results?
This project was successfully completed at the end
of 2025, and its main contribution is the creation
of a comprehensive set of tools for the development
of regional hydrogen microgrids. We developed three
key methodologies: a guidance methodology for those
interested in implementing microgrids, a methodology
for public authorities to assess such projects,
and a methodology for assessing the safety of a given
location. We validated these outputs using specific
examples, including the city of Brno and the energy
centre in Planá nad Lužnicí. As a result, we are now able
to offer comprehensive feasibility studies for hydrogen
energy systems. We have tools that allow us to calculate
energy requirements, investment and operating costs,
and subsequently optimise the entire system.
Your development in the field of fuel purity
monitoring is particularly interesting. What makes
the sampling device you have developed so unique,
and how have you managed to eliminate the risk
of distorted analytical results?
Hydrogen purity is absolutely crucial to the service life
of fuel cells, as even trace contamination can cause
irreversible damage to their membranes. In cooperation
with APT, we have developed a sampling device
for high-pressure hydrogen that places an exceptional
emphasis on the cleanliness of the entire process
and is ideally suited to subsequent laboratory analysis.
The uniqueness of the solution lies in minimising
dead volumes – areas within pipes and fittings where
residual gases from previous measurements could
remain and significantly distort the analysis.
We use special design elements and unique equipment
for cleaning the sample cylinders prior to sampling
itself. The evacuation and flushing process carried out
in a heating chamber ensures that no contaminants
from previous measurements remain in the sample
| Text: Monika Ševčíková, foto: Roman Ličbinský, Centrum dopravního výzkumu, v. v. i.