A State-of-the Art in Slovenia on Green and Low Carbon Hydrogen Policies
As of August 2024, Slovenia has not yet adopted a dedicated hydrogen strategy. The energy vector finds mention in other strategic documents of the nation, such as:
- The Strategy in the field of market development for the establishment of appropriate infrastructure related to alternative fuels in the transport sector in the Republic of Slovenia, of 2017;
- The Action programme for alternative fuels in transport, of 2021, and the successive Act on the infrastructure for alternative fuels and the promotion of the transition to alternative fuels in transport.
Regardless of the missing national hydrogen strategy, numerous initiatives involving public and private stakeholders from Slovenia are in place, to promote ambitious goals and plans in this field, and advance pilot projects. The National Hydrogen Association of Slovenia, for instance, connects companies, research centers, universities, and other key actors carrying out or planning to engage in research and development, production, system integration, and other activities related to hydrogen or hydrogen technologies.
The Government of Slovenia further supported, in March 2024, the establishment of a consortium of 18 companies, organizations and municipalities for an ecosystem for hydrogen from low-carbon sources. The broad consortium includes the Slovenia-Japan Business Council, the Slovenian Academy of Engineering, the country’s electricity transmission and distribution system operator ELES, Holding Slovenske elektrarne (HSE), GEN Group, Elektro Gorenjska, Elektro Ljubljana, Plinovodi, Petrol, Energetika Ljubljana, Talum, Slovenske železnice Group (Slovenian Railways), TPV Automotive, Solvera Lynx, BTC, the City of Ljubljana, City of Kranj and the Municipality of Ajdovščina. Four ministries expressed support for the effort (Source: www.hydrogeneurope.eu).
Timeline
Transregional collaboration
North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley:
The three territories which constitute the NAHV, Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy), Slovenia and Croatia, have been considered by the European Hydrogen Backbone as one part of the larger pan-European hydrogen supply and import corridors, which will connect industrial clusters, ports, and hydrogen valleys to regions of abundant hydrogen supply.
The North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley initiative seeks to foster a cross-border hydrogen valley between the north-east of Italy and Slovenia, boosting the energy transition, promoting sectoral integration between transport, industry and energy sector in an integrated ecosystem. It will promote collaboration to jointly define and implement a common innovation agenda and cooperation projects to accelerate the deployment of hydrogen-based solutions, strengthening local hydrogen ecosystems and building interregional value chains.
More details here: https://www.nahv.eu/
Public subsidies
Slovenia’s National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) includes hydrogen as a vital element for decarbonization efforts. The government supports this through various funding programs aimed at research and development, as well as pilot projects for hydrogen technologies. The Strategic Research and Innovation Partnership (SRIP) also focuses on integrating sustainable energy solutions, including hydrogen.
