In December 2014 Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and other Central European countries embarked on a cooperation focused on hydrogen technologies with the aim to catch up with Western Europe in this promising field of power engineering. The project initiated by Czech Hydrogen Technology Platform (HYTEP) will be wrapped up by international conference Hydrogen Days from April 6-8, 2016 in Prague where the EHA will be leading a session on national developments on April 6, 2016.

“We have seen a number of successful results in experimental research and development of functional devices for energy storage in the Czech Republic, Poland and other Central European countries, for example using the method of high-temperature electrolysis. Since early 1990s we have also managed to reduce the gap between us and Western Europe. But our region still lacks strategic approach to the promising field of hydrogen technologies from government and industry. And without a systematic support we may miss the ongoing modernization of the entire energy sector in Europe,“ says Aleš Doucek, vice chairman of HYTEP. Therefore Czech Hydrogen Technology Platform (HYTEP) initiated cooperation between the four Visegrad countries also joined by Romania.

The participants in the project “Strengthening competencies in Hydrogen Technologies in V4” are HYTEP, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Hungarian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association, Polish Institute of Power Engineering and Romanian National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies ICIT Rm. Valcea. The project will culminate with an international conference Hydrogen Days on April 6-8, 2016  under the auspices of Czech ministers of Trade and Industry; Education; Environment; Deputy Prime Minister for Science, Research and Innovation and others.

Besides the countries involved in the project, the attendance of participants from Bulgaria and Slovenia as well as leading experts from Germany, France or Great Britain is expected. About HYTEP Czech Hydrogen Technology Platform (HYTEP) brings together the most important subjects in the Czech Republic engaged in the development of hydrogen technologies and their utilization in practice. Its aim is to promote and coordinate further research, working closely with partners in the European Union and elsewhere. Universities, research institutions and industry representatives are among its members. www.hytep.cz