The North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley (NAHV) was in the spotlight at the 2025 HyValue Days, held in Bergen on 7–8 May 2025. The annual event, hosted by HyValue, gathers leading experts and partners from across Europe to explore the latest developments in hydrogen value chains.
Stephen Taylor, Strategic Coordinator of the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley, delivered a keynote address titled “The North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley (NAHV): Origins, Governance, Implementation, Problems Encountered and Lessons Learned… Plus Strategic Plans for Its Future Evolution.”
In his presentation, Taylor outlined the creation and unique cross-border structure of the NAHV, Europe’s first transnational hydrogen valley involving Slovenia, Croatia, and the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. He shared insights into how the initiative was conceived, how political consensus was reached, and how collaboration between governments, industry, and research stakeholders was successfully established.
The keynote explored the Valley’s ambitious objectives, including integration across energy, transport, and industry sectors, as well as the development of a robust hydrogen supply chain. Taylor addressed the challenges faced in the early implementation phase, the solutions adopted, and key lessons learned.
Looking ahead, the presentation also highlighted strategic opportunities for the further evolution of the NAHV, including follow-on projects and governance mechanisms such as the Inter-Ministerial Working Group. The discussion provided a valuable perspective on achieving balance between hydrogen production, storage, distribution, and end-use, while managing competing priorities and fostering sectoral cooperation.
The NAHV’s participation in HyValue Days underlines its role as a reference model for regional hydrogen development and a catalyst for European collaboration in clean energy innovation.