Representatives of Slovenian electricity grid operator Eles and gas transmission system operator Plinovodi signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Japanese multinational in Tokyo. The agreement is intended to pave the way for a strategic partnership focused on integrating hydrogen technologies into Slovenia’s critical energy infrastructure.
The first joint project will begin with a feasibility study examining the technical and operational possibilities for producing, storing and using hydrogen within the local energy system. The planned infrastructure could also include multipurpose mobile backup units designed to support energy systems during emergencies and help address bottlenecks associated with the rapid charging of electric vehicles.
The initiative is expected to strengthen the resilience and stability of Slovenia’s energy infrastructure as the share of renewable energy continues to grow. It could also mark the beginning of closer integration between the country’s electricity and gas transmission networks through dedicated hydrogen infrastructure, positioning hydrogen as an important component of Slovenia’s green transition.
Eles CEO Aleksander Mervar described the memorandum as the beginning of a groundbreaking project for Slovenia’s energy sector, saying its significance extends beyond the initial project and could support the wider use of hydrogen technologies in industry and transport.
Plinovodi CEO Matija Bitenc similarly stressed the importance of connecting different energy infrastructures into a more integrated system, while Yokogawa Executive Vice President Koji Nakaoka said the agreement reflects a shared commitment to reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
The cooperation was signed during Infrastructure and Energy Minister Jernej Vrtovec’s visit to Japan, where he also participated in a ministerial meeting on hydrogen in Chiba and signed a separate memorandum with Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa. The agreement between the two governments aims to expand cooperation in research, development, introduction and commercialisation of hydrogen technologies, particularly in energy, mobility and industrial sectors.
Slovenia and Japan have already cooperated on major energy initiatives, including the Nedo smart grid project involving Eles, Nedo and Hitachi Energy. Slovenia is also participating in the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley alongside Croatia and Italy’s Friuli Venezia Giulia, making the latest agreement part of a broader effort to establish hydrogen infrastructure and accelerate the region’s transition towards lower-carbon energy.
