Japan and Slovenia will strengthen their cooperation in hydrogen energy through a memorandum focused on developing supply chains, new technologies, and information sharing. The agreement opens a new chapter in the energy relationship between the two countries and seeks to create the conditions for advancing hydrogen related projects. One of the key points will be strengthening supply chains and promoting technological solutions that can facilitate the development of this sector, according to Japan’s Ministry of Industry. The memorandum will serve as a framework for expanding bilateral collaboration and exploring new applications of hydrogen within energy systems.
Yokogawa Electric joins the development of hydrogen in Slovenia
Furthermore, Yokogawa Electric signed a memorandum of understanding with the Slovenian companies ELES and Plinovodi to collaborate on the development of a hydrogen ecosystem in the European country, ELES operates Slovenia’s state electricity transmission network, while Plinovodi manages the gas transport system, the participation of both companies will allow for an analysis of how two infrastructures that have so far operated independently could be connected. Cooperation with Yokogawa Electric will also be aimed at strengthening the resilience of Slovenia’s energy infrastructure and laying the foundations for the development of a low-carbon hydrogen industry.
Japan and Slovenia are moving towards a hydrogen plant
Among the initiatives being considered is the study of a hydrogen plant that could connect the electrical grid with the infrastructure of gas transport this scheme would allow for greater coordination between the two systems through the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier, currently, the companies are in the analysis phase and have not yet released information on production capacity, the necessary investment, or a potential construction timeline. Furthermore, the companies will explore digital solutions to support the coordinated operation of the two networks, this technological component will be crucial for jointly managing infrastructure that has traditionally operated independently.
Cooperation for a more resilient supply chain
The memorandum of understanding signed between Japan and Slovenia extends cooperation beyond the business project and establishes a specific institutional framework for advancing hydrogen energy. Creating more resilient supply chains is one of the agreement’s main objectives, along with technological development and information sharing, through these actions, both countries aim to create favorable conditions for future projects related to this energy source.
In Slovenia, the joint participation of electricity and gas operators proposes a model based on greater integration of energy networks, the future hydrogen plant will be one of the projects that will need to be analyzed to determine the feasibility of this connection. In this way, the cooperation between Yokogawa Electric, ELES, and Plinovodi will complement the memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries through a line of work focused on infrastructure, digitalization, and the development of a low-carbon hydrogen industry.
Source: Reuters
Photo: Shutterstock
