Czech Republic

Vodíkova strategie České republiky

The strategy sets the framework for development of the hydrogen sector from 2021 until 2050 and it is based on four pillars: low-carbon hydrogen production, low-carbon hydrogen use, hydrogen transport and storage and hydrogen technologies.

PRODUCTION

Considering the limited renewable energy potential and the significant amounts of hydrogen used in industry, the strategy focuses on different hydrogen productions methods including: renewable hydrogen, hydrogen from natural gas with carbon capture, electrolytic hydrogen from nuclear energy and pyrolisis.

TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION

Initially production will take place near places of consumption, however as the country will continue to be a net importer of energy resources, including hydrogen, a gradual transition from natural gas pipelines to hydrogen is foreseen. Additionally, the country is an important transit state for natural gas, a role expected to continue. Construction and repurposing of hydrogen pipelines will begin only after 2031.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Areas with the greatest potential for research, development and production identified include hydrogen-powered vehicles and components them, specifically buses, trucks and cars, and hydrogen production equipment, focusing on electrolysis and pyrolysis.

END-USES

Mobility

Mobility is the main end-use envisaged in the first phases of the strategy due to the cost-parity and technological readiness levels.

Industry

For industry, the main barrier identified for replacement of grey hydrogen with green is price parity. It is expected that after 2026, operational verification of hydrogen use in industry could begin and the transition to commercial hydrogen use in industry will begin only after 2031. It is not expected that production and transport of large quantities of low-carbon hydrogen will take place before 2040.