On 2nd April 2026, the Slovenian Ministry of Environment, Climate and Energy, under the framework of the NAHV project, organized a national Roundtable on regulatory sandboxes for hydrogen. The online event brought together around 46 representatives from public institutions, regulatory authorities, industry, research organisations and universities, providing a broad platform for discussing regulatory gaps, uncertainties and barriers affecting hydrogen economy development.
A key issue emerging from the discussion was the complexity and fragmentation of permitting procedures, particularly for small‑scale and modular hydrogen installations. Stakeholders highlighted lengthy authorisation processes, unclear classification of hydrogen facilities, and difficulties related to spatial planning, safety approvals and multi‑authority coordination. Several participants underlined the need for single contact points.
Another recurring topic concerned the lack of regulatory clarity for innovative, integrated hydrogen systems, including on‑site production linked to direct industrial use, hydrogen storage solutions and sector‑coupling applications such as energy communities. Participants stressed that current regulatory frameworks are often designed for large and standardised installations, while hydrogen development in Slovenia is likely to rely initially on modular, decentralised and demand‑driven solutions.
The Roundtable also provided an opportunity to reflect on the Slovenian experience with regulatory sandboxes in the energy sector, notably the existing legal framework for renewable energy sources. While this instrument has not yet been applied in practice, it was recognised as a valuable reference for the possible future development of dedicated regulatory sandboxes covering the hydrogen value chain, potentially through an extension or adaptation of the current framework.
More broadly, the discussion highlighted the importance of early regulatory engagement, enabling innovators to test technologies operating at intermediate technology readiness levels in controlled real‑world conditions, while generating regulatory learning for public authorities.
Overall, the Slovenian Roundtable confirmed strong stakeholder interest in regulatory sandbox mechanisms and provided valuable insights into national priorities and constraints, fully aligned with the issues identified in the parallel dialogues held in Italy and Croatia. The event strengthened the shared understanding of common challenges across the three partner territories and contributed to the ongoing NAHV work on identifying priority themes for regulatory sandboxes.
The outcomes of the Slovenian Roundtable will feed into the next phase of policy dialogue and coordination within NAHV, supporting the development of regulatory sandbox proposals and contributing to the construction of a transnational hydrogen ecosystem spanning Slovenia, Croatia and the Friuli Venezia Giulia.