Hrastnik1860 will implement a hydrogen pilot in the glass industry as part of the NAHV project.

This will involve integrating a large-scale PEM water electrolyser and hydrogen storage with an oxyfuel glass furnace.

Its objective is to enhance the energy efficiency of hydrogen utilisation by effectively using both hydrogen and oxygen from the electrolysis.

This will enable the decarbonisation of the glass melting process.

Through this initiative, Slovenian glassmaker Hrastnik1860 aims to establish a sustainable and dependable long-term supply of renewable energy, making a positive impact on the industry’s environmental footprint.

The North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley (NAHV) project is made up of consortium of 37 partners, including lead partner Holding Slovenske Elektrarne (HSE) and Hrastnik1860.

The partners are from Slovenia, Croatia and the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia in Italy.

HSE, on behalf of the consortium, signed with the Clean Hydrogen Partnership Joint Undertaking, a contract on the co-funding of the NAHV project, involving €25 million in grants.

This act served as the official green light for the implementation of the project as part of the Horizon Europe programme, which is aimed at establishing a dedicated hydrogen valley.

The project will be implemented on September 1st, 2023.

It will last 72 months and will feature 17 pilot projects across the three partner territories.

The concept of the NAHV project encompasses the entire chain of the use of renewable hydrogen, from its production, storage and distribution to its end use in various sectors.

Industrial stakeholders from all three countries will develop pilot projects to produce more than 5,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per year from renewable energy sources and its storage, distribution and use.

One of the most important objectives of the project is to create a renewable hydrogen market, both in terms of demand and supply, which would make it a competitive energy product of the future.

The project is supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and its members.