The Czech regions of Ústecký, Moravian-Silesian and Karlovy Vary signed a Memorandum to cooperate in the field of hydrogen, both through the support of hydrogen technologies and the creation of hydrogen valleys. The governors of these regions also signed a declaration with the Minister of the Environment, Petr Hladík, to achieve climate goals, environmental quality and the prosperity of the Czech Republic and its regions.
Minister Hladík recalled that through the Modernisation Fund, the Czech Republic is supporting the production and use of hydrogen, with a total of 13 billion crowns (approximately 556 million euros) allocated. He mentioned especially the so-called RES+ program, through which it is possible to get subsidies for photovoltaics with a storage system that will serve for the production of hydrogen. At the same time, he announced that there are discussions ongoing to increase the support for hydrogen, for example by increasing the share of biomethane and hydrogen in the system.
“In the Moravian-Silesian region alone, the Operational programme Just Transition (OPJT) wants to allocate roughly one billion crowns [approximately 42.7. million euros] for comprehensive support of the entire hydrogen chain, from the development to the production to the final use in the transport and industry sectors,” said the Minister.
The regions of Ústecký, Moravian-Silesian and Karlovy Vary have a long tradition in the Czech energy industry, both in terms of production and in terms of skills, thanks to the numerous companies and universities based in these areas.
According to Jan Schiller, governor of the Ústecký region, the goal is to maintain a central role in the Czech energy industry, especially within the energy transition.
“That is why we have created a regional hydrogen strategy and defined goals that we want to achieve,” he pointed out. In particular, the region is implementing the use of hydrogen in mobility with some refilling stations already in operation and the willingness to launch the first hydrogen trains.
“Electromobility and hydrogen mobility is a certain future,” commented the Governor of the Moravian-Silesian Region, Ivo Vondrák, adding that by producing its own hydrogen, Czechia can also decrease its dependence on oil and gas and on Russian supply.
