Hydrogen, the Fuel of the Future, Has Its Centre in Brno
Hydrogen is one of the key pillars of transport decarbonisation, and the Czech Republic has its own flagship institution in this field – the Transport Research Centre (CDV). It coordinates the National Centre for Hydrogen Mobility, develops unique technologies for monitoring fuel purity and fast vehicle refuelling, and manages the data infrastructure for the entire hydrogen ecosystem in the Czech Republic. We spoke about its achievements and activities with Mgr. Roman Ličbinský, Ph.D., Director of the Division of sustainable transport and transport structures diagnostics and the project’s principal investigator.
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 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 H2/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 H2/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.