Blackouts won't stop us. The hydrogen economy in action.

When the network goes down

Power outages can bring production and normal business operations to a halt in an instant. Whether it's a short-term local problem or a widespread blackout, the consequences are always significant – loss of time, money, and continuity of ongoing projects, including obstacles to work on the part of the employer while maintaining employees' wage entitlements.

That is why at DEVIN we have been working for a long time on solutions that enable energy self-sufficiency or backup and ensure stable operation even when the central grid fails. The H2BASE system and the entire hydrogen economy built at our site in Jablonec nad Nisou play a key role in this strategy.

Blackout as an unplanned test

On July 4, 2025, a large part of the Czech Republic was hit by a widespread power outage. Jablonec nad Nisou was also left without power. While most companies had to interrupt their operations unexpectedly, we were able to continue working thanks to our hydrogen solution.

At the moment of the outage, we connected a hydrogen generator to the premises and secured the supply of electricity for key operations. The blackout thus became a real-life test of the functionality of the entire system and confirmed that hydrogen management is not just a theoretical concept, but a practically usable technology.

A complex with varying energy requirements

The company's premises are designed as a multifunctional technological facility that combines several types of operations with different energy requirements:

• Administrative and office space: long-term operation, stable consumption, IT infrastructure, lighting, HVAC
• Workshop and development facilities: higher peaks, technological equipment, testing and development
• Technical and support areas: server rooms, laboratories, storage areas, technical infrastructure

The total area of the complex exceeds 2,500 m², with office space accounting for approximately 30%, workshop and development areas 60%, and the remainder being technical and logistical facilities.

Energy consumption varies significantly depending on the type of operation and time of day. While the administrative section shows relatively stable consumption during the working day, technological and development operations are characterized by higher peaks and variable consumption depending on specific testing or production cycles.

The annual electricity consumption of the complex is in the order of tens of MWh, with not only the volume of consumption playing a key role, but also the need for energy stability and operational independence.

Hard data

The hydrogen economy in Jablonec is a pilot project. We have specific technical data available:

• From 1 kg of hydrogen, H2BASE produces approximately 16 kWh of electrical energy and up to 17 kWh of heat.
• We store approximately 45 kg of hydrogen at a pressure of 45 bar in a pressure vessel on the roof of the building on the premises.
• additional tens of kilograms of hydrogen are available in pressure bundles and a mobile trailer (up to 140 kg at 500 bar),
• H2BASE achieves peak electrical power of up to 75 kW (covered by the battery for a short period), while the continuous electrical power of the fuel cell is approximately 25 kW‍
• Energy conversion efficiency:
  
  • electrolyzer approx. 65%
  • fuel cell around 50%

In a specific blackout situation, we used approximately 8 kg of hydrogen stored in a pressure vessel on the roof and in hydrogen bundles, and powered the facility for 6 hours. If we take this event as average consumption, then the total supply of approximately 185 kg of hydrogen would last for 138 hours and 45 minutes, which corresponds to just under 6 days of continuous operation.

What this means in practice

The real situation has shown that the hydrogen economy is not a vision of the distant future, but a functional technology of today. The hydrogen supply at the Jablonec site allows the facility to continue operating even during a day-long power outage.

The system is also designed to be modular, so its capacity can be gradually expanded according to the growing needs of the facility or changes in operational load.

How the whole solution works

The hydrogen economy in Jablonec combines several key elements into a single functional unit:

• Photovoltaic power plant: Panels on the roof generate electricity, which we use directly or store in hydrogen.
• Electrolyzer: Converts excess electrical energy into hydrogen by decomposing water.
• Hydrogen storage: We store hydrogen in a pressure vessel on the roof, in bundles, and in a mobile trailer.
• Fuel cell and battery: When consumed, hydrogen is converted back into electricity. Batteries cover short-term peaks and ensure immediate power availability.

This combination provides long-term capacity, flexibility, and energy self-sufficiency.

Why hydrogen?

Battery storage handles short-term day-night cycles very well. However, if we want to store large amounts of energy for weeks or months, hydrogen is the logical choice.

• Batteries are ideal for immediate consumption and short-term power balancing.
• Hydrogen enables long-term energy storage, acts as a backup during blackouts, and offers the possibility of utilizing waste heat. Losses during long-term storage are minimal to negligible.

The hydrogen economy is therefore not a replacement for batteries, but a strategic complement to them.

Who it makes sense for

Based on our experience, the hydrogen economy has the greatest benefits for:

• industrial and commercial sites with extensive photovoltaic systems and high energy consumption,
• Companies that cannot afford downtime – manufacturing, research, logistics, healthcare,
• municipalities and areas in locations with limited or unstable networks,
• to conserve energy for the winter months.

Each project begins with a feasibility study, based on which we design the performance of the electrolyzer, fuel cell, and storage capacity. The modular solution allows for gradual expansion and planning with a reserve for the future.

Step-by-step process

The path to a hydrogen economy typically involves four steps:

1. Feasibility study – energy analysis of consumption and potential of renewable sources, spatial layout.
2. Proposed solution – finding the optimal combination of hydrogen production, storage, and consumption.
3. Manufacturing and installation on site – we build the equipment at our Jablonec facility and deliver it to you ready to use.
4. Operation, monitoring, and optimization – as a Czech company, we provide all after-sales service and support.

Come and see for yourself

We look forward to welcoming you and showing you our electrolyzer, storage facility, and H2BASE system in action.

More heads know more, and we believe that the best solutions arise from partnerships. If you are looking for a way to transform your energy sector and gain independence based on real data, let's get together and discuss how we can put your vision into practice together.

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