The first meeting of the Energy Lab: A key platform for sharing knowledge and moving towards sustainable technologies

The meeting was opened by the Scientific Director of the Energy Lab and Director of the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies, Stanislav Mišák, who thanked all participants for their presence and stressed the importance of turning the Green Deal into a “Real Deal” that should bring concrete solutions for the energy sector and society.

“The region expects significant help from us in the process of its transformation from a coal region to a sustainable and attractive region to live in. This is the main goal of the REFRESH key project and within the Energy Lab, one of the four living labs that make up the project’s research agenda, we are helping the region’s energy transformation by creating a new energy sector based on low-carbon technologies that support energy self-sufficiency not only for the Moravian-Silesian region but also for other regions within the Czech Republic and the EU. I am glad that we have organised the first joint Energy Lab meeting with international participation of excellent scientists, in which we can discuss specific research topics within all five research programmes. We will meet in a similar format on a regular basis to monitor progress in the development of technologies and methods whose implementation in practice is crucial for the transformation of the region,” said Stanislav Mišák, Scientific Director of the Energy Lab and Director of the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies.

The workshop also included an introduction to the structure of the Energy Lab and the sub-areas of research that focus on different aspects of energy transformation. Specifically, these included Materials Research for Energy and Environmental Technologies, Research on the Use of Secondary Raw Materials and Alternative Energy Sources, Research on Digitalization and Energy Transformation, Research on Safety and Building Efficiency of Energy Units, and Research on Environmental and Health Aspects of Energy.

The introduction was followed by the Scientific Director of the Social Lab, Ondřej Slach, who stressed the need to link technical and social approaches in addressing the upcoming changes that may affect, among others, the labour market, migration and social polarisation in the context of energy transition, not only at the regional but also at the national level. Challenges such as barriers to renewable energy development and socio-economic aspects of the acceptance of new technologies were highlighted.

The next speaker was Hanuman Niwrutti Thorat, who discussed hydrogen as a key element in the energy mix. He stressed that switching to clean technologies, primarily hydrogen, is a necessary step to achieve climate goals, including reducing carbon dioxide emissions. He described advances in proton exchange membranes and electrocatalysts for environmentally friendly and cost-effective electrolyzers. The membranes, developed from materials such as Nafion and Polybenzimidazole, have improved conductivity, resistance to high temperatures and mechanical stresses. Thanks to these properties, they can be applied in various industries, especially where materials capable of withstanding harsh conditions are needed.

The workshop also provided an opportunity to discuss other innovative technologies such as hydrothermal carbonisation of waste sludge, presented by Witold Kwapiński. This innovative process converts sludge into a useful hydrochar and the technology helps to reduce waste and pollution while producing material that can be used as a fuel or soil additive. The process contributes to the circular economy and helps achieve energy neutrality in regional waste treatment systems.

“The workshop was excellent. It is a great idea to bring people from different disciplines together, allowing us to learn from these diverse areas of research. The exchange of ideas that takes place here often leads to new ideas and innovative solutions to our own challenges,” said Witold Kwapiński.

Flah Aymen presented his research in the field of wind energy systems, focusing on special designs of electrical machines for renewable energy sources. The dual stator and rotor machines his team is developing increase the performance of wind turbines and improve their reliability. These designs are scalable and suitable for both small and large wind farms, making them a key element for the future of wind energy.

Leonor Calvo presented research on the safety of hydrogen technologies as part of the CESAR project. Her team has developed new standards and safety protocols for working with hydrogen, which is essential for the safe implementation of hydrogen technologies in various industries. The CESAR research project has the ambition to help the Moravian-Silesian region to be a leader in clean technologies.

“I am aware that this workshop is part of the REFRESH project and I am glad that thanks to our cooperation on topics related to the environment, energy, hydrogen and similar areas, I was able to attend this event. Attending a workshop like this is always beneficial for everyone, as it provides insight into topics that may be outside one’s own scientific field. You can get interesting ideas at these events that can ultimately improve your own research. For me it is very interesting and I really appreciate being invited to participate and to learn more about energy, waste and hydrogen electrolysis,” said Leonor Calvo.

Bartosz Romuald Zawadzki presented research on photocatalysis using NiO/vermiculite materials. This research showed the potential of the materials for hydrogen production using light and photocatalysts. Hydrogen, which is a key energy source, can be produced more efficiently and sustainably in this way. The study shows that different synthetic methods can improve the stability of catalysts, which has a direct impact on increasing hydrogen production at lower cost.

“I thought the workshop was great. It promoted the exchange of ideas and information among the participants, which enhanced my overall experience. What was most beneficial for me was definitely the networking. I met specialists from similar but slightly different fields, which helped me to broaden my horizons. For example, I heard about hydrothermal carbonisation, photolysis, electrochemistry and the safety of hydrogen technologies. Although these are not exactly my areas of research, learning about them helps to advance our understanding of these technologies,” said Bartosz Romuald Zawadzki.

Stanislav Mishak concluded the Energy Lab meeting with a summary of the main ideas and challenges presented during the day. He stressed that REFRESH and the Energy Lab represent a unique platform for interdisciplinary collaboration, allowing for new contacts and knowledge sharing between researchers, industry and policy actors.