Hydrogen, the Fuel of the Future, Has Its Centre in Brno
www.posiv.cz ǀ 67
HYDROGEN
cylinders that could affect the analytical
results.
Our LCDV laboratory has successfully
completed the development of analytical
methods for analysing impurities
in hydrogen fuel in accordance
with the international standards ČSN
ISO 14687 and ČSN ISO 21087,
and subsequently successfully completed
the accreditation process conducted
by the Czech Accreditation Institute.
Within its accredited portfolio, it therefore
makes use of the synergies offered
by advanced gas chromatography
(GC) and Fourier-transform infrared
spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques.
Establishing this expert capability at CDV
represents a significant contribution
to the development of hydrogen mobility.
Hydrogen producers and operators
of hydrogen refuelling stations now have
access to another certified facility capable
of verifying fuel compliance with stringent
standards.
There is currently a great deal
of discussion around the “fast-refuelling
ecosystem”. What exactly does
it involve, and what benefits will it bring
to fleet operators?
The current refuelling standard
of up to 60 g H
2
/s is insufficient
for heavy-duty transport. If, for example,
a hydrogen-powered train needs to take
on 200 kg of fuel, refuelling would
take an unreasonably long time. Our
aim is to develop components capable
of refuelling at rates exceeding 60 g
H
2
/s in accordance with the new SAE
J2601-5 standard, with the ambition
of reaching 120 g/s or even more.
The main advantage is a significant
reduction in refuelling time – for example,
to a total of 5–6 minutes for a city bus.
However, a fundamental requirement
is that the vehicle itself must also be
designed to accommodate such rapid
refuelling. This is a technologically
demanding task because high flow rates
cause extreme heating of the tanks,
resulting in very substantial cooling
requirements.
We are therefore developing advanced
control algorithms using fuzzy logic
and neural networks to ensure
an optimised yet consistently safe
refuelling process. The result will be
a mobile development platform for testing
under real-world conditions.
Strategic decision-making at both
national and regional level depends
on high-quality data. How does your
research into the underlying data
infrastructure contribute to this,
and what new features will the Czech
Hydrogen Map bring?
This initiative is our response to the need
of both national and regional authorities
for a robust data base. Without accurate
data on production capacities or
points of consumption, it is impossible
to maintain an effective overview
of the hydrogen ecosystem. The main
objective is to expand and systematically
update the Czech Hydrogen Map, which
is managed by CDV.
We are now integrating additional
layers covering educational institutions,
technology manufacturers, research
projects and organisations. There will
also be a layer showing the current
obligations arising from the European
AFIR Regulation. This is creating
a comprehensive database system that
serves as a public service and will enable
policymakers and investors alike to make
informed decisions based on data on both
the current situation and planned future
development.
Hydrogen is often discussed
in connection with environmental
sustainability, but here too
it is necessary to assess the entire life
cycle. Could you mention your activities
in the field of LCA, which have also
received a prestigious award?
Yes, we achieved significant success
in the field of environmental impact
research when our team received an award
for the scientific paper “Energy Intensity
and Environmental Impacts of Hydrogen
Production”. The study focuses on the life
cycle assessment (LCA) of hydrogen
production using PEM electrolysis. We
evaluated the environmental impacts
of hydrogen production depending on
the composition of the electricity mix
used to power the electrolyser.
In the analysis, we took into account
the entire life cycle of the equipment,
from the manufacture of individual
components through operation to the end
of their service life, and compared
scenarios for the development
of the Czech energy mix in 2024,
2030 and 2040. It is an important scientific
basis demonstrating that hydrogen is not
a universal “cure-all”, but must be deployed
strategically in areas where it genuinely
makes sense from both an environmental
and economic perspective.