The Moravian-Silesian Region A Symbol of Modern Energy, but Without Illusions

Hydrogen buses between Ostrava and Havířov, prospects for hydrogen-powered rail services, and plans for the Czech Republic’s first SMR in Dětmarovice. In this interview, Governor of the Moravian-Silesian Region Josef Bělica discusses the region’s energy future and the role hydrogen will play alongside nuclear power.

In recent months, you have often spoken about small modular reactors. How exactly do SMRs fit into the development of the hydrogen economy in the region?

I see small modular reactors as one of the options for ensuring a stable energy supply for the Moravian-Silesian Region in the future. We are an industrial region that needs large amounts of reliable electricity. Today, neither renewable sources nor European regulations, which often fail to reflect the realities of our region, can provide that. SMRs could be one of the solutions because they generate electricity without fluctuations while also allowing part of their output to be used for hydrogen production when demand is lower.

Hydrogen is not a competitor to nuclear power. Rather, the two can complement each other. When there is enough electricity, some of it can be used for electrolysis. But hydrogen is not some kind of energy cure-all either. It is a technology that can make sense where there is industry and where a stable energy supply is needed. Without it, the region will not move forward. In other words, nuclear power is the only stable source that can replace coal and produce energy at affordable prices.

When and where could the first small modular reactor be built in the region? Is it expected to supply energy for hydrogen production as well?

Three locations are currently being assessed in the Czech Republic, and in our region Dětmarovice is the site most often discussed. It has the infrastructure, experienced people and, above all, industry nearby. From our perspective, it is a logical choice. Realistically, the first projects are being discussed for the second half of the 2030s. Their primary role would be to supply electricity to industry. And if hydrogen proves economically viable, it would be logical for part of the output to be used for its production as well.

Dětmarovice is also symbolic. Not as a place of decline, but of modernisation. For decades, it was associated with coal; one day, it could generate energy without emissions.

The region has been talking about hydrogen buses and other forms of zero-emission mobility. Which segment is currently closest to real-world deployment?

Hydrogen buses are the furthest along. We have a contract covering routes between Ostrava and Havířov, and from 2028 the first four hydrogen buses are expected to enter regular service there. It is a pilot project that will allow us to test both the technology and the economics in practice. Bus transport is currently the most advanced in terms of market readiness, servicing and infrastructure.

Rail also has potential, particularly on routes where electrification would be too expensive. But we do not want to introduce technologies simply because they are ‘modern’. We want real-world data and to make decisions based on what actually proves effective.

Will hydrogen propulsion be a requirement in tenders for new trains and buses?

No. Our priority is zero-emission transport, but at the same time we want to maintain technological neutrality. Batteries will be the better option in some cases, hydrogen in others. In Poland, we can see that hydrogen works mainly for large fleets. Here, we first want pilot projects, practical experience and hard data. Hydrogen is no longer a laboratory experiment, but it is still a technology that has to make economic sense.

Which investments in hydrogen infrastructure will be the most important over the next five years?

There are three areas. First, hydrogen production: without sufficient and affordable energy, hydrogen has no chance. The current European rules for ‘green hydrogen’ are out of touch with the realities of industrial regions. Companies need stable energy, not ideology. The region must defend itself against the ‘green terror’ that threatens the competitiveness of industry.

Second, transport and distribution: refuelling stations, local sources, biogas upgrading and blending with hydrogen. We are not waiting for a hydrogen pipeline from Germany. We want to make use of what we already have here.

And third, industry: energy-intensive companies will need new technologies, but only those that are economically sustainable.

The region is often described as a leader in developing ‘hydrogen valleys’ among coal regions. What will determine whether it maintains this position?

It will come down to one simple thing: whether pilot projects and strategies turn into real investments. We have the advantage of close cooperation between companies, universities and public authorities. We also benefit from broader regional cooperation, because energy policy cannot be pursued within the boundaries of a single region.

At the same time, hydrogen is not the only path forward. The region’s future will be based on a combination of nuclear power, innovation, smart industry and technologies that make economic sense. Just as we were once a symbol of coal and steel, we can become a symbol of modern energy – but without illusions and without ideological pressure.