Future of Energy: Connecting and Sharing Resources
On the 25th September 2025, NAHV was present at the conference Trajnostna energija lokalno 025 – Pogledi iz prihodnosti (Sustainable Energy Locally 025 – Views from the Future), organised by Borzen, which brought together experts, businesses, and local communities to discuss the future of sustainable mobility and renewable energy sources (RES).
Speakers highlighted hydrogen, e-mobility, smart grids, and entrepreneurial innovation as key drivers for connecting technology, communities, and the economy. Urška Kalan, Head of Future Mobility at Borzen, underlined that Borzen has evolved from a market operator to a strategic partner in the energy and mobility transition, stressing that “the energy transition is above all a story of people who can, with shared knowledge and vision, ensure a clean, safe, and competitive future for Slovenia and Europe.”
Hydrogen as a Key Energy Source of the Future
One of the most relevant topics when discussing sustainable energy carriers is hydrogen. Advanced approaches to unleashing its potential – from the Slovenian transmission gas system and the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley (NAHV) to techno-economic analysis of hydrogen use in the Slovenian power system – were presented by three experts:
Marjan Eberlinc, CEO of Plinovodi, emphasised that “the gas transmission infrastructure will play a crucial role in decarbonising the energy supply, as it can act as a storage for surplus renewable electricity and a source of flexibility in solar and wind systems.”
Jurij Giacomelli, Director of META Circularity, presented the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley (NAHV), a cross-border initiative uniting 37 partners from Croatia, Italy, and Slovenia. “The potential of hydrogen in Europe has not yet been fully recognised, which makes the opportunity for collaboration exceptional. Municipalities have proven to be very important in terms of energy communities.” He noted that new initiatives – NACHIP, NASCHA, and H2Ready – have grown out of NAHV, together forming the North Adriatic hydrogen ecosystem, and announced that the central event, the Hydrogen Ecosystem Conference, will take place for the fifth time on 12–13 November in Nova Gorica and Gorizia.
Miha Trunkelj from the Slovenian Association of Mechanical Engineers presented a study on hydrogen use in Slovenia’s power system, highlighting its technical and economic aspects. “Hydrogen can significantly contribute to better utilisation of renewable energy sources and decarbonisation, but building the right infrastructure and combining different energy sources – from solar and wind to nuclear – will be crucial. Hydrogen could be the key to an affordable and reliable energy transition.”
Together, their insights underlined the role of hydrogen not only as an energy carrier but also as a solution for storage, system flexibility, and cost-efficient transport of energy — all critical for Slovenia’s green transition and for initiatives like NAHV.
Local Communities and Innovation
Three municipalities – Ajdovščina, Kranj, and Radlje ob Dravi – shared how they are integrating renewable energy and mobility solutions, from hydrogen technology implementation to optimised electrified transport services.
The event concluded with a discussion featuring leading entrepreneurs from Danfoss Trata, Lumar, and BPT, who emphasised energy efficiency, innovation, and supporting start-ups through platforms like Pure Power NOW.
Photo: Andrej Križ
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