Progress reported at the Consortium meeting in Nova Gorica
Nova Gorica, 11th November 2025
All five NACHIP pilots report progress as the initiative evolves into its second year.
The European Commission has approved the second major project for the development of the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley. A grant of €7.6 Million has been awarded to the North Adriatic Clean Hydrogen Investment Platform (NACHIP) which is dedicated to accelerating transnational innovation actions within the North Adriatic Hydrogen Ecosystem.
Green Hydrogen Production from Wave Energy is piloted in the port of Žigljen in the municipality of Novalja on the Pag island (Croatia). Leonitus, a Zagreb-based SME, explores the production of green hydrogen using wave energy. The initiative is motivated by the company’s investment idea to develop and deploy a novel technology that captures wave energy through a system of submerged devices installed beneath the sea surface. These devices deform the regular motion of waves, gradually depleting their energy and converting it into electricity, which is then used to produce green hydrogen. The pilot features the application of multifunctional breakwater technology, being deployed for the first time in Europe. Leonitus provides technical expertise and engineering support and conduct feasibility studies to assess the technical and economic viability of this innovative approach. The system being implemented at the port of Žigljen will have a planned capacity of 1 megawatt. The total investment value is estimated at €5.4 million, with €2.7 million sought from the market.
Leonitus’s founder Simon Ferjuc expects that the pilot will be put in use before th edn of the year. The project’s main long-term impacts are related to enabling electric maritime transportation, first from the very port of Žgljen, facilitated by green hydrogen, consequently, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and encourage the uptake of renewable energy sources. Simon Ferjuc emphasises that the project aims to create several workplaces on the island.
ECUBES’s role in advancing hydrogen innovation in the region is related to support downstream and midstream hydrogen markets, accelerate technology readiness (TRL 6–9), enable infrastructure development, and foster stakeholder engagement. Its goal is to create investable, scalable solutions aligned with the European Green Deal.
ETRA, based in Celje, Slovenia, is a leading provider of intelligent automation solutions, with over 70 employees and a focus on robotics, mechanical engineering, digitisation, and automation. As a certified Siemens Automation Solution Partner and official partner of Fanuc, ABB, Daihen, and Kuka, ETRA brings advanced R&D capabilities to the project. Nearly 50% of its business is dedicated to new product development. Its participation in NACHIP reflects a strategic focus on innovation, Industry 4.0, and clean technologies across the EU and beyond.
The Municipality of Velenje, Slovenia’s sixth largest and youngest city, plays a pivotal role in local development strategies. With a strong commitment to sustainability and carbon neutrality, Velenje is undergoing a coal region transition and is actively seeking clean thermal energy solutions. Its district heating system currently emits around 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. Transforming this system into a coal-free, environmentally sustainable, and economically viable model is a key municipal priority.
To meet these challenges, Velenje is focusing on building renovations and energy efficiency to reduce thermal energy consumption. The city’s ambitious climate goals have been recognised at the EU level: it was selected for the Mission 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities initiative and awarded the European Green Leaf 2024. As an experimental hub, Velenje serves as a model for cities across Europe striving for climate neutrality, benefiting from tailored support, increased visibility, and opportunities to pilot innovative solutions like those developed within NACHIP.
Dynamic Hydrogen Releasers – Torviscosa, Italy
Serichim of Torviscosa is leading this pilot to develop and demonstrate Dynamic Hydrogen Releasers (DHR), based on Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) technology. This innovation supports the safe and efficient transport, storage, and on-demand release of hydrogen, contributing to Europe’s green mobility and industrial decarbonisation strategies.
Since 2006, Serichim has operated as a contract research and manufacturing organisation (CRMO), specialising in the development of (bio)chemical synthesis methods and fine chemicals production. With 14 expert researchers, 800 m² of fully equipped laboratories, and two pilot plants, the company supports its partners from early-stage development to small-scale production.
Hydrogenation and dehydrogenation are among Serichim’s core competencies, and through its involvement in the NAHV ecosystem and the NACHIP project, the company is applying its expertise to accelerate the development of the regional hydrogen economy.
Within NACHIP, Serichim is developing a patented prototype of a Dynamic Dehydrogenation Releaser (DHR) designed to release hydrogen in real time based on the instantaneous demand of the user system. The LOHC-based system enables hydrogen to be stored and transported using existing logistics infrastructure, significantly reducing investment costs, enhancing safety, and shortening implementation timelines.
Throughout the development phase, Serichim is also engaging with stakeholders across sectors to define the technical requirements and dimensions of the DHR units. Upon completion, the technology will be further scaled and made available for licensing to engine manufacturers that use hydrogen as an energy carrier.
