Czech Republic (Ústí Region)
Rolling Out the Ústí Region Hydrogen Strategy
The Ústí Region is implementing its 2030 Hydrogen Strategy through workforce retraining, multi-stakeholder coordination, and systematic monitoring of regional hydrogen indicators.
The following steps were taken to fulfill the task:
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Ústí Region Hydrogen Strategy 2030 was one of the first regional hydrogen strategies in the Czech Republic, developed as part of the country’s transition away from coal. Its implementation phase is now underway, supported by the Economic and Social Council of the Ústí Region.
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Skilled workforce: A cornerstone of the strategy is retraining workers from coal and heavy industries into hydrogen-related roles. Partnerships with Jan Evangelista Purkyně University, regional vocational schools, and local industrial employers ensure a tailored training offer. Courses include hydrogen fuel cell maintenance, safety protocols, electrolyser operations, and hydrogen logistics. By 2024, the first cohort of retrained workers entered the labour market, demonstrating the strategy’s early success. Universities also integrate hydrogen modules into engineering and environmental science programmes to prepare future specialists.
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Effective coordination: Implementation is guided by a regional hydrogen steering committee, which includes municipalities, energy companies, transport operators, and cross-border stakeholders from Poland. Coordination is crucial in Ústí, a region balancing industrial decarbonisation and mobility projects. The committee ensures that hydrogen infrastructure, such as refuelling stations for buses and hubs for industrial users, is deployed in sync with regional transport plans and EU cross-border corridors. Through these meetings, conflicts (e.g. prioritising buses vs. industrial users) are openly discussed and resolved.
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Monitoring and reporting: The region has developed a monitoring framework with clear indicators: number of hydrogen vehicles deployed, tonnes of hydrogen produced, reduction in CO₂ emissions, and number of workers trained. Annual monitoring reports are prepared for the regional council and shared with national ministries, ensuring transparency and accountability. These reports enable corrective action. For example, when a delay in hydrogen station construction was reported in 2023, the region accelerated permitting processes and adjusted project sequencing.