Energetika Ljubljana opens charging park for alternative fuels – hydrogen
Industry newsThe facility features 12 charging points for electric and hydrogen-powered city buses, according to a company statement. It also includes Slovenia’s first public hydrogen refuelling station designed for buses, trucks, and passenger cars running on hydrogen.
The hydrogen station’s initial capacity enables refuelling of up to 25 buses and 150 passenger vehicles, or a mix of both.
At present, eight hydrogen-powered buses operate in Ljubljana. The city’s public transport operator, LPP, plans to expand its fleet this year with additional hydrogen buses and 28 new electric buses, a move expected to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions, noise, and air pollutants.
During the initial phase, hydrogen for the buses will be sourced from external suppliers. Meanwhile, Energetika Ljubljana is moving forward with plans to establish its own green hydrogen production via electrolysis. Construction is already underway in the Podutik area on a 2 MW solar power plant dedicated exclusively to hydrogen production.
By summer 2027, a hydrogen production facility will be built alongside the solar plant, enabling energy self-sufficiency for the first 10 hydrogen buses.
The total investment in the alternative fuels park amounts to €4.5 million (approximately $5.3 million), while the photovoltaic plant and hydrogen production facility will require an estimated €7.5 million.
Energetika Ljubljana and LPP jointly secured funding under the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility for alternative fuel infrastructure. Energetika Ljubljana received €832,500 in EU support for the hydrogen refuelling station, while LPP obtained €529,750 to install 24 electric charging stations. Of these, 12 were placed at an existing LPP depot and the remaining 12 were incorporated into the new alternative fuels charging park.
Both Energetika Ljubljana and LPP operate under the Ljubljana Public Holding company.