H2 Lab: Croatia

Workshop on Development of Solar and Hydrogen-

Based Integrated Energy Systems

University of Zagreb
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture
doria.marcius@fsb.hr
ankica.kovac@fsb.hr

https://hydrogen.hr/en/
https://rh2ec.com
H2 Lab: Group

H2 group leader
Associate Professor Ankica Kovač, PhD - Head of Power Engineering Laboratory,
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, Zagreb
H2 group advisor
Professor Mihajlo Firak, PhD

PhD students
Doria Marciuš, MSc ME
Matej Paranos, MSc ME
Dinko Brezak, MSc ME
H2 Lab: Field of research

APPROACH:
• Mathematical modeling.
• Simulations.
• Experimental research.

HYDROGEN VALUE CHAIN & RES:

• Renewable hydrogen production.
• Renewable hydrogen storage.
• Renewable hydrogen transportation.
• Renewable hydrogen usage.
• Solar power plants.
H2 Lab: Activities

• Education (FSB student courses, Spring Training, workshops,

webinars, etc.).

• Collaboration with industry (Feasibility Studies, Consulting,

Mapping, etc.).

• Conference organization (Renewable Hydrogen Energy

Conference - RH2EC).

• Cooperation on national and international projects (HRZZ,

HORIZON, IPCEI, ERDF, ESF, etc.)

• Development of Croatian Hydrogen Strategy (Vice-presidency

of Expert working group).

• Croatian Hydrogen Association activities (Vice-presidency).

 H2 Lab: Projects

finished
1. Renewable Hydrogen production system.
2. First Croatian Hydrogen-Powered Bicycle.
3. First Croatian Hydrogen Refuelling Station.
4. Croatia Mirai Challenge (in cooperation with Toyota Croatia Inc.).
5. Securing electrical energy in the case of climate extremes and natural disasters

ongoing
(European Fund for Regional Development).
6. Advanced methods of green hydrogen production and its transportation (Croatian
Science Foundation).
7. UrbanSTEM (European Social Fund).
8. Development Assistance for Regions: Deployment of 20 fuel cell buses and supporting
infrastructure in the City of Zagreb (FCH JU) – 2 HRSs.
9. Mapping the potential of the Croatian economy for the development of hydrogen
technologies.
Renewable Hydrogen production system
960 Wp Solar power plant:
• 3 PV panels - fixed, one-axis, and dual-axis
tracking systems,
• monitored operation via online software
(EnlighterManager),
• 1.24 MWh/year electric energy – fixed system
378 kWh, one-axis 401 kWh, and dual-axis 462
kWh.
Renewable Hydrogen production system
Hydrogen production via water electrolysis:
• novel alkaline electrolyzer,
• hydrogen rate of production of 1.138 g/h,
• PV operating UI characteristics tuned to the
AEL operating UI characteristic to maximize
production.
First Croatian Hydrogen-Powered Bicycle and HRS
• Hydrogen-Powered Bicycle:
• 30 bar metal hydride storage,
• 300 W PEMFC,
• 66 km with 4.5 gH2,
• 0.0682 gH2/km consumption,

• Hydrogen Refuelling Station (HRS):

• 2,16 kW solar power plant,
• water electrolysis PEMEL,
• 2 000 cm3/min H2 flow rate,
• 5 commercial hydrogen bicycles.
Securing electrical energy in the case of climate extremes
and natural disasters
• Mobile emergency system
• Energy backup - one day/two to a week/two
• PEM Electrolyzer
• PEM Fuel cell stack
• Electrochemical hydrogen compressor
• PV modules
• High-pressure hydrogen storage tank
• Low-pressure hydrogen storage tank
• Simulation of the whole system
• Mathematical model of the whole system
Securing electrical energy in the case of climate extremes
and natural disasters
Securing electrical energy in the case of climate extremes
and natural disasters
Feasibility studies
• Hydrogen power plant (H2PP) in
Slavonski Brod, Croatia:

• 2 772 tH2/year,

• 17.5 MW PEME,

• grid electricity.

• Solar hydrogen power plant in

Ivanić Grad, Croatia:

• 30 000 kgH2/year,

• 500 kW PEME,

• 3.3 MW Solar power plant.

Croatian Hydrogen Strategy
• 2026:

• at least 6 hydrogen refueling stations for cars, buses, and heavy transport

• installation of electrolyzers with a capacity of 10 MW + 20 MW for the production of renewable hydrogen

• deployment of 70 alternative-powered buses (hydrogen and batteries)

• co-financing the purchase of 2,000 new alternative-powered cars (either hydrogen or battery)

• 2030:

• installation of electrolyzers with a capacity of 70 MW

• the share of hydrogen in energy consumption of 3.75 %

• 2050:

• installation of electrolyzers with a capacity of 2,750 MW

• the share of hydrogen in energy consumption of 15 %

Acknowledgement
This research has been done within the project titled KK.05.1.1.02.0014 Securing
electrical energy in the case of climate extremes and natural disasters, funded by the
European Fund for Regional Development, and the project titled UIP-2020-02-7332
Advanced methods of green hydrogen production and its transportation. The authors
thank the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of the Republic of Croatia,
the Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency of the Republic of Croatia,
and the Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ) for selecting this projects for funding.
 H2 Lab: Croatia
Workshop on Development of Solar and Hydrogen-
Based Integrated Energy Systems

Thank you for your attention!

Doria Marciuš

https://hydrogen.hr/en/
https://rh2ec.com