ELES and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia have signed a cooperation agreement for the RESHUB pilot project. As part of the initiative, the military barracks in Kranj will be transformed into a demonstration center for energy self-sufficiency, integrating military infrastructure with innovative solutions in renewable energy and hydrogen technologies.
Mag. Aleksander Mervar, CEO of ELES, and Mag. Marko Lovše, State Secretary on Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, signed the agreement during the Slovenia–Japan Business Conference. The agreement outlines cooperation in the field of energy self-sufficiency and the development of hydrogen technologies.
ELES will contribute to the development of the RESHUB (Resilience Hub) pilot project concept, which focuses on the production, storage, and use of hydrogen. The project will turn the Kranj military barracks into a demonstration center equipped with infrastructure for hydrogen-based energy solutions. ELES will be involved in all phases of the project — from preparing expert studies and technical groundwork to providing professional support for documentation development.
By participating in RESHUB, ELES is fulfilling its commitment to developing sustainable energy solutions through the integration of hydrogen technologies, which are expected to transform the energy landscape in the long term.
Advancing Hydrogen Technologies for a Green Future
At ELES, we recognize hydrogen as a potentially key energy carrier for storing surplus energy from low-carbon sources, which can later be reused in the energy sector, transport, and industry. In 2024, we established a consortium to build a hydrogen ecosystem based on low-carbon sources.
Collaboration with Japanese partners — who have been actively developing and, in some cases, successfully deploying hydrogen technologies for decades — is essential. ELES has already established several partnerships with Japanese companies and is now exploring new opportunities for deeper cooperation in the further development and application of hydrogen technologies.
As a transmission and distribution system operator, ELES has a long-standing history of successful collaboration with Japanese partners. This includes the NEDO smart grid project and, most recently, a new cooperation agreement signed with Hitachi Energy to support the deployment of advanced control systems.
Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation
For over a decade, ELES CEO Mag. Aleksander Mervar has been a driving force behind the development of bilateral cooperation through various innovation projects. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to strengthening economic and technological ties between Slovenia and Japan, Japanese Ambassador to Slovenia, Akiko Yoshida, awarded him an honorary recognition at the business conference. The plaque honors his role in “promoting mutual understanding and friendship” between the two countries.
(Photo: STA/Boštjan Podlogar)