Project „New technology for hydrogen and geopolymer composites production from post-mining waste“ - Department of Environmental Engineering FMG VSB-TUO

Project coordinator: KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology (Poland)

Project partners: Central Mining Institute – National Research Institute (Poland), Institute of Construction and Architecture of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (Slovakia), Institute of Energy and Fuel Processing Technology (Poland), VSB – Technical University of Ostrava (Czech Republic), Wrocław University of Science and Technology (Poland), and Haldex S.A. (Poland).

Project duration: 2023–2026 (successfully completed on 30 June 2026).

Project objective: The aim of the international Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) project, entitled New Technology for Hydrogen and Geopolymer Composites Production from Post-Mining Waste, was to develop a new technology for producing hydrogen and geopolymer composites from mining waste.

As part of the project, our research team focused on mapping and identifying suitable sites containing deposited mining waste in the Czech Republic. Our activities primarily involved material characterization and processing using appropriate pretreatment methods. The processed samples were subsequently provided to our research partners in Poland and Slovakia for further investigation.

Further information about the project is available on the official H2GEO website.

halda

Final H2GEO Project Meeting – 23 June 2026

On 23 June 2026, the final meeting of the partners involved in the H2GEO project, New Technology for Hydrogen and Geopolymer Composites Production from Post-Mining Waste, took place at the headquarters of the KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology. The meeting focused on evaluating the project's achievements and discussing the final activities required for its successful completion. During the meeting, the partners presented the results achieved within individual work packages, discussed the completion of the remaining project deliverables, and prepared the final report, including the administrative and financial closure of the project. The programme also included a visit to selected laboratories at KOMAG, where participants were introduced to the institute's research infrastructure.

The H2GEO project was successfully completed on 30 June 2026. All project objectives relating to the development of a new technology for producing hydrogen and geopolymer composites from post-mining waste were achieved, contributing to the advancement of sustainable technologies for the utilization of mining waste.

H2GEO at the KOMEKO 2026 Conference – 23–25 March 2026

From 23 to 25 March 2026, a dedicated POST-MINING project session was held as part of the KOMEKO 2026 scientific and technical conference, organized by the KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology. During this session, the H2GEO project partners presented the results achieved to date.

The presentations focused on gasification of the energy-rich fraction, utilization of the mineral fraction for geopolymer production, recovery of selected critical raw materials, and potential applications of hydrogen and geopolymers within the circular economy.

The conference also included project workshops presenting the project's objectives, the scope of the research activities, and the results achieved.

KEMEKO H2GEO

H2GEO Project Partners' Meeting in Zabrze – 21 November 2025

On 21 November 2025, another progress meeting of the partners involved in the H2GEO project, New Technology for Hydrogen and Geopolymer Composites Production from Post-Mining Waste, took place in Zabrze, Poland. The meeting was hosted by the Institute of Energy and Fuel Processing Technology.

During the meeting, the partners presented their latest research findings concerning the utilization of separated carbonaceous and mineral fractions. Progress was reported in the gasification of the energy-rich fraction in a fluidized-bed reactor, hydrogen separation from synthesis gas using pressure swing adsorption (PSA), and the preparation of geopolymers for filtration membranes.

Potential applications of mineral fractions in construction and agriculture were also discussed.

The programme included a technical visit to the Clean Technologies Centre (CCT+), where participants learned about the institute's research and technological infrastructure.

International Evaluation Panel Visits VSB – Technical University of Ostrava

An international evaluation panel (IEP) visited VSB – Technical University of Ostrava to gain detailed insight into the university's operations and progress, particularly in research and development.

Through discussions with representatives of the university, its faculties, and research centres, the panel members reviewed the university's achievements over the previous five years in relation to Modules 3–5 of the Czech national research evaluation methodology, Methodology 2017+.

The comprehensive evaluation report will provide an important basis for decisions concerning the university's future funding and development.

Eight international panel members from Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Croatia, Slovenia, Portugal, Italy, and Poland participated in the three-day visit. They met with representatives of all university units and learned about their main activities, organizational structures, and research programmes.

The meetings were generally followed by discussions and guided tours of laboratories and research facilities, providing the panel with direct insight into the infrastructure and equipment supporting the university's research activities.

The Department of Environmental Engineering was among the facilities visited. During the visit, Professor Silvie Heviánková presented major research projects undertaken by the department over the previous five years, including the H2GEO project.

Fourth H2GEO Project Meeting in Ostrava – 15 May 2025

On 15 May 2025, the fourth meeting of the partners involved in the H2GEO project, New Technology for Hydrogen and Geopolymer Composites Production from Post-Mining Waste, took place at VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, which hosted the event.

The programme began with presentations by individual project partners, focusing on the current progress of their research activities, results achieved, and planned future developments. The presentations provided an overview of progress across the project's research areas and contributed to discussions on the next steps in the collaboration.

Following the technical programme, participants visited the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET), where they toured the plasma gasifier, a key technological facility used in the project's research and development activities.

Most project partners attended the meeting, which took place in a constructive and inspiring atmosphere.

Third H2GEO Project Meeting in Katowice – 26 November 2024

On 26 November 2024 we met with the project partners for the third time in Katowice at the headquarters of GIG (Central Mining Institute - National Research Institute) - the project partner. Information on the progress of the project H2GEO: New technology for the production of hydrogen and geopolymer composites from mining waste was presented. The meeting was attended by all project partners.

On behalf of VŠB - TUO, results from plasma gasification of feedstock were presented - for testing, sorted coal fraction from Poland and the Czech Republic was used.

Second H2GEO Project Meeting in Bratislava – 20–21 May 2024

On 20 and 21 May 2024, the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) in Bratislava hosted the second meeting of the project H2GEO: New technology for the production of hydrogen and geopolymer composites from mining waste. The meeting was attended by all project partners to share the results to date.

H2GEO Kick-off Meeting in Szczyrk – 7 November 2023

As part of the international science and technology conference KOMTECH - Mining in the Age of Green Transformation - the first kick-off meeting was held in Szczyrk on 7 November 2023, officially launching the H2GEO project: new technology for the production of hydrogen and geopolymer composites from mining waste.

Each of the project partners presented a short presentation which included background information about the company, the scope of its activities and experience in the H2GEO project.

During the meeting, a number of issues related to the implementation of the project results were discussed. The activities completed so far and planned for ongoing and soon to be started tasks were discussed.