The national gas transmission system operator is actively undertaking steps to establish Slovenia’s hydrogen transmission system, aimed at enabling the transport and supply of pure hydrogen. Hydrogen transmission system will operate entirely independently and separately from the existing natural gas infrastructure. Such parallel operation will support a gradual transition for Slovenian end-users toward hydrogen, while contributing to the diversification of the national energy mix.
At the core of the Slovenian hydrogen system will be a hydrogen transmission backbone, designed to ensure robust cross-border interconnections with hydrogen transmission systems in neighboring countries. In subsequent development phases, connecting hydrogen pipelines will be constructed to link demand points and potential domestic production sites with the national backbone.
The establishment of the hydrogen backbone and associated cross-border interconnection points is critical for Slovenia’s integration into the broader European hydrogen system. This integration will facilitate hydrogen imports from neighboring countries which is essential given Slovenia’s limited domestic production potential. In the early stages, national hydrogen demand will be met primarily through imports. While domestic hydrogen production is expected to grow over time, it will likely remain insufficient to achieve full energy self-sufficiency.
The transmission system operator plans to establish cross-border interconnection points with all four of Slovenia’s neighboring countries by 2035. This will enable deep integration into the European hydrogen market and infrastructure. Cross-border connectivity will provide Slovenia with access to external markets and diversified hydrogen sources—from both Europe and more distant regions such as North Africa.
Access to neighboring markets will also help stabilize and make hydrogen prices more predictable, due to a wider range of supply sources and increased competition. Moreover, diversification of supply routes will enhance security of supply—one of the core priorities of the EU’s strategic energy frameworks, such as the RePowerEU plan.
Hydrogen transmission system development is advancing rapidly across the European Union, including in all of Slovenia’s neighboring countries. Beyond interconnection points and backbone development, other hydrogen-related projects are equally important for Slovenia. These include hydrogen supply corridors, terminals for liquefied hydrogen or hydrogen carriers such as ammonia, and underground hydrogen storage facilities.
Figure 1: Planned hydrogen network in the wider region surrounding Slovenia (Hydrogen infrastructure with PCI status is marked in red; infrastructure without PCI status is marked in blue. Source: ENTSOG TYNDP 2024 (link))
Figure 2: Planned hydrogen network in the immediate vicinity of Slovenia (Hydrogen infrastructure with PCI status is marked in red; infrastructure without PCI status is marked in blue. Source: ENTSOG TYNDP 2024 (link))
Several strategic infrastructure projects in close proximity to Slovenia are of significant importance for ensuring hydrogen supply to Slovenian consumers and for integrating Slovenia’s hydrogen transmission system into the European hydrogen corridor network. The most relevant projects include:
• SouthH2Coridor
• SEEHyC Corridor
• Krk Terminal
The SouthH2Corridor is a 3,300 km-long hydrogen corridor that will connect North Africa with Germany via Italy and Austria, facilitating the import of renewable hydrogen into Europe. All projects forming part of this corridor have been granted the status of Projects of Common Interest (PCI) and are included in the first official PCI list under the revised TEN-E Regulation. The corridor enjoys strong political support from all participating countries.
The corridor runs in close proximity to Slovenia, along the borders with Italy and Austria, and is considered a major hydrogen transport route for Europe. In the future, this corridor could also serve as a vital supply route for Slovenia.
The Slovenian gas transmission system operator (TSO) is actively working to establish cross-border interconnection points with both Italy and Austria and is collaborating closely with the Italian TSO on planning a hydrogen interconnection between Slovenia and Italy, enabling connection of Slovenian hydrogen system to the SouthH2Corridor.
The South-East European Hydrogen Corridor (SEEHyC) will connect Southeastern Europe with Germany, traversing Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, and extending further into Germany. The corridor is planned to be approximately 3,000 km in length. Several sections have already obtained PCI status and are included in the initial PCI list under the revised TEN-E Regulation, while many of the remaining segments are in an advanced planning stage.
According to the 10-Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP) of ENTSOG and the Hungarian TSO, a hydrogen pipeline connection is planned from the Slovenian border to the SEEHyC infrastructure. With the establishment of a cross-border point between Slovenia and Hungary, Slovenia will gain access to this corridor, enabling connection to the markets and sources of Southeastern Europe, with potential future extension toward the Middle East and Ukraine.
The Green Energy Park KRK project foresees the development of an ammonia terminal on the island of Krk, adjacent to the existing LNG terminal. The terminal will receive ammonia shipments from at least nine different global locations, most notably from the Green Energy Park Piauí project in Brazil. The promoter of both projects is Green Energy Park (GEP).
Ammonia will serve as a hydrogen carrier, as transporting hydrogen in the form of liquefied ammonia is more efficient than transporting liquefied hydrogen. Upon arrival at the terminal, ammonia will be converted back into hydrogen, which will then be injected into the Croatian hydrogen network.
The ENTSOG 10-Year Development Plan, as well as the national development plans of the Slovenian and Croatian TSOs, include a planned hydrogen interconnection between Slovenia and Croatia. This connection will enable Slovenia to access hydrogen from the Krk Terminal, further contributing to the diversification of supply routes and sources.
We use cookies to improve your experience and analytics. Choose how you want to proceed.
