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Hydrogen as the fuel of the future? The Faculty of Electrical Engineering at UWB and the state enterprise ČEPRO say yes—and they want to prove it not just on paper. On Wednesday, June 4, the two institutions signed a memorandum of cooperation aimed at launching joint research, attracting new talent to the field, and above all, bringing Czech energy practices closer to a more sustainable future.

The institutions will collaborate on research and development of hydrogen technologies, such as efficient storage and refueling of hydrogen or optimizing the operation of filling stations. A unique element of this cooperation is access to infrastructure—researchers and students will be able to use ČEPRO’s hydrogen refueling station in Mstětice, which serves for fueling hydrogen-powered vehicles and will provide a real environment for testing and development. There is also an expectation of openness to further practical partners, such as transport and logistics companies operating hydrogen-powered vehicles, which may participate in research projects through pilot operations or data sharing.

“ČEPRO is a strategic partner for us in the field of sustainable energy technology research and professional education. Thanks to this memorandum, our students and researchers will gain new opportunities to work on challenging and practically applicable projects,” said Zdeněk Peroutka, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering UWB.

Chairman of the Board of ČEPRO Jan Duspěva added: “We see hydrogen as one of the key components of the future energy mix. Cooperation with FEL UWB will allow us to verify innovative technologies and prepare for the changes that await the entire energy sector. We believe that together we can contribute to the development of technologies that will make a real impact.”

Key areas of collaboration include the development of more efficient hydrogen production from solar power via electrolysis, its safe storage and fueling, and energy storage from solar systems. The partners will also focus on testing hydrogen technologies under real-world conditions. Thanks to its facilities and infrastructure, ČEPRO can become a key partner in a project aimed at supporting the development of hydrogen technologies in the Czech Republic.

The memorandum is valid until the end of 2028. “This agreement is another step toward deeper integration of academic research into practice and contributes to fulfilling the strategic goals of the Czech Republic in the fields of innovation and green transformation,” added Dean Zdeněk Peroutka.