Testbed Leader: HSE
Koprska ulica 92, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Director (or representative): Jerneja Sedlar (jerneja.sedlar@hse.si)
Project Description
HSE is currently developing a renewable hydrogen production and distribution facility. The testbed aims to convert surplus energy from intermittent, renewable sources into renewable hydrogen. The hydrogen will be utilised as a renewable energy source in the cement and glass industries, local transport, and electricity production.
The testbed includes a PEM electrolyser, a compressor station, a hydrogen refuelling station for cars and buses, and a hydrogen transport vessel refuelling station for four transport trailers.
The facility will solely rely on renewable energy sources, establishing it as the first commercial size electrolysis plant in Slovenia and the pioneering renewable hydrogen production facility in the region.
Key Metrics
Our testbed is split into two phases.
In the first phase the plan is to deploy a 3 MW PEM electrolyser, with the goal to produce 300 tons of renewable hydrogen per year. This setup includes two 150 kW compressors capable of compressing hydrogen up to 950 bar. The hydrogen will be distributed to a 350 or 700 bar dispenser for buses and cars or to one of four dispensers with variable pressure settings for transport vessels, compatible with road, rail, and water transport. There will be modular stationary storage at 500 bars (initially 500 kg) and 900 bars (initially 40 kg) for use at the refuelling station.
The first-phase budget is approximately 15.000.000 euros, with NAHV covering 30%. The start of commercial operations is planned for Q2 2026.
In the second phase, the plan is to deploy an up to 30 MW electrolyser system to increase our production capacity from 300 to 3.000 tonnes per year. The plan is to expand our transport and
distribution facility based on demand and may also incorporate infrastructure for injecting renewable hydrogen into the existing gas pipeline.
Current Status
The municipality confirmed the spatial planning for the first phase of the project, and the responsible ministry formally denied the need for an environmental study, shortening our timeline by about a year.
The documentation necessary for the building permit application is being prepared with the plan to apply for the permit by the end of the summer.
In the meantime, the spatial planning process has started for the second phase of the project and there is a new spatial plan in preparation, to be confirmed by the municipality.
Future Plans
Our main focus now lies in getting the building permit for the first phase of the project and finishing the spatial planning process for the second phase of the project.
The focus will then be on launching a public tender for the procurement of the needed equipment for the first phase of the project and implementing the system into the vast energy production portfolio.
Efforts are being made to identify the possible hydrogen offtakers in Slovenia and in the region in general. After all, 20% of the renewable hydrogen must be distributed across the border.
Impact and Benefits
The hydrogen plant will greatly improve the utilisation factor of our ever-growing intermittent power generation portfolio, allowing renewables to keep running while producing hydrogen using that electricity instead of shutting them off when the market deteriorates. The hydrogen will be used as fuel by the neighbouring municipality, which is planning to switch to hydrogen for all their public transport buses, greatly improving their carbon footprint.
It will be used as a showcase for the hydrogen market in Slovenia, being the first car and bus hydrogen refuelling station in the country.
The hydrogen will be available for use as a coolant for the generators via the existing pipeline in the power plant. It will be tested as an energy source for the two hydrogen ready gas turbines that TEŠ has installed. The electrolyser will utilise a heat recovery system, so we can use the excess heat in our district heating system, providing up to 1 MW of heat to the two neighbouring municipalities.
Progress Highlights
One of the significant milestones of the project was the official letter from the Ministry of natural resources and spatial planning, denying the need for an environmental study for these types of facilities in Slovenia.
As the project progresses, more ideas and opportunities on the use of renewable hydrogen as a renewable energy source are emerging.