Hydrogen Valleys Without Borders How the Moravian-Silesian Region Is Joining Forces with Poland
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HYDROGEN
the Polish side, has led to a joint agreement
on knowledge transfer, particularly
in the field of hydrogen safety, as well as
academic staff exchanges. A joint study
programme could also be established.
The cooperation is already generating
tangible business opportunities in both
directions. Polish energy company
TAURON is planning to enter the Czech
market and intends to build at least four
hydrogen refuelling stations in the border
region. Meanwhile, the Polish side
has shown interest in a commercial
vehicle made by the Czech company
HAGEMANN and is currently in talks
with the company about purchasing it.
The cooperation also led to two business
missions to Poznań, Lublin and Chełm,
focusing on the hydrogen economy,
mobility and new business opportunities.
In addition to establishing contacts
with local authorities and hydrogen bus
manufacturers, the missions demonstrated
the determined and decisive mindset
with which new challenges are generally
approached in Poland. Representatives
of Czech technology companies
particularly appreciated the standard
of mobile hydrogen refuelling
solutions, which could serve as a model
for the Czech market.
Among Europe’s Leading Hydrogen Valleys
The network of contacts and know-
how that the cluster built up throughout
2025 began to bear fruit as early as
2026, when the Moravian-Silesian
Hydrogen Cluster succeeded in a call
under the European Project Development
Assistance (PDA) programme, which
forms part of the Hydrogen Valleys
Facility initiative within the Clean
Hydrogen Partnership. Of 23 applicants
from across Europe, only 13 hydrogen
valleys ultimately received support –
including the Moravian-Silesian Hydrogen
Valley project, the only representative
from the Czech Republic.
What Comes Next
According to the cluster, the sustainability
of the cooperation is already secured
through the confirmed continuation
of the partnership with the city
of Rybnik. “We have agreed to submit
another joint cross-border project
entitled Development of Cross-Border
Cooperation on the Hydrogen Valley
Concept, as there is clearly an ambition
to develop a broader hydrogen valley
across the Moravian-Silesian Region
and Silesia, and our partnership is proving
to be a long-term strategic project rather
than a one-off initiative.”
At the same time, the cluster is continuing
with other activities linked to the hydrogen
valley concept:
• Establishment of a Regional
Hub – the project will prepare
scenario-based feasibility studies
for a hub designed to provide
a mix of renewable and low-carbon
hydrogen production and supply
for the decarbonisation
of the chemical industry and other
energy-intensive businesses
in the region.
• The Working Group on Education
in Hydrogen Technologies
is gradually presenting the first
outputs of its strategy for developing
the region’s education system in this
field.
• UNIFHY Pilot Project – a GIS
analysis and mapping of suitable
locations for hydrogen technologies
in the region. A publicly accessible
map layer will be created
in the regional GEOPORTAL, making
it easier for investors to identify
suitable locations while also providing
the region and municipalities
with an important resource
for strategic planning.
More Than an Energy Transformation
The development of hydrogen
technologies is bringing the region not
only environmental benefits, but also
opportunities to create skilled jobs,
attract new investment and strengthen
the competitiveness of industry.
By connecting businesses, research
institutions and the public sector,
the region is gradually becoming
an important centre for hydrogen
innovation in Central Europe.