Slovenia joins EU Clean Hydrogen Partnership

Cooperation within the European Union’s Clean Hydrogen Partnership will provide Slovenia with support for capacity building, knowledge exchange, management, and financing.

Cooperation within the EU’s Clean Hydrogen Partnership contributes to creating conditions for developing an efficient hydrogen ecosystem, according to the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy. In addition, emerging green technologies are an opportunity for Slovenia’s economy.

The Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking is a unique public-private partnership supporting research and innovation activities in hydrogen technologies in Europe.

The EU has allocated EUR 1 billion for the partnership for the period between 2021 and 2027. The amount is planned to be at least matched by private investments.

The memorandum would contribute to the efficient implementation of the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley project

In addition, the EU has pledged an extra EUR 200 million to double the number of so-called hydrogen valleys by 2025. Slovenia, Croatia and the Italian province of Friuli Venezia Giulia are implementing the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley (NAHV) project.

In July 2023, the ministry applied within a call for technical assistance to create synergies with the Clean Hydrogen Partnership. Together with ten other institutions in the EU, Slovenia is going to receive technical assistance.

In addition to knowledge exchange, capacity building, project development, financing, improvement of knowledge, skills, and management of financial resources, Slovenia is now also able to exchange experiences within the group. The memorandum will also significantly contribute to the implementation of projects such as the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley, the ministry said.

Croatia and Friuli Venezia Giulia have already signed memoranda with the partnership.

New opportunities for green technologies and solutions developed in Slovenia

State Secretary at the ministry Tina Seršen has signed the memorandum on behalf of Slovenia.

“The memorandum represents our commitment to the future of hydrogen and introduces the opportunities for technical assistance. With this support, we want to strengthen our capabilities and knowledge exchange for more efficient development and introduction of hydrogen technologies in Slovenia,” she stressed.

Clean Hydrogen Partnership’s executive director Valèrie Bouillon-Delporte has signed the memorandum with Seršen.

The cooperation indirectly opens up new opportunities for green technologies and low- and zero-emissions solutions developed by the Slovenian scientific research sector and businesses, according to the ministry.