Green Energy Opportunities 2025

Concept

A Zero Emission Corridor is a designated transport route (road, maritime, rail, inland waterway) focused on enabling and accelerating the use of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), including electric and hydrogen-powered trucks, ships, trains, and barges.

Main Objectives

• Decarbonizing Transport: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially from heavy goods transport.
• Improving Air Quality: Cut nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) for healthier environments.
• Accelerating ZEV Adoption: Build infrastructure such as EV charging and hydrogen refueling stations to facilitate use.
• Testing Innovation: Serve as a pilot for new zero-emission technologies and policies.
• Energy Sovereignty: Promote local renewable energy integration with transport systems.

Key Elements

• Infrastructure: Strategically placed charging and refueling points; grid upgrades.
• Vehicles: Encourage or mandate ZEV use on corridor routes.
• Policy & Incentives: Subsidies, standards, regulations, and access restrictions for polluting vehicles.
• Collaboration: Governments, private sector, logistics companies, energy providers, and infrastructure managers working together.

Vision & Hydrogen Energy

• Aim to create a climate-neutral Europe using green hydrogen from renewable sources such as solar, vertical wind turbines, hydropower, geothermal, wave energy, and waste.
• Hydrogen will power electricity, clean transport, public facilities, heating, and energy storage in smart city solutions.

Pilot Project: City of Novalja

• First city in the corridor producing green hydrogen using sea wave energy and electrolysis.
• Pilot 1 MW H2 production under construction, operational by 2027.
• Hydrogen will power public transport, electric vehicle charging, municipal vehicles, lighting, and buildings.
• Goals: reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, and achieve local energy self-sustainability by 2030.

Benefits

• Introduction of pioneering technologies to the market.
• Reduced dependency on fossil fuels and lower emissions.
• Coastal protection through wave energy.
• Job creation and economic growth.
• Use of recyclable and sustainable materials.

Financing and CEF Call

• The ZEC project enables securing up to 85% investment subsidy via the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), providing strong financial support.
• High co-financing is possible due to the project’s strategic importance for EU decarbonization and transport innovation.
• Collaboration among forum participants and consortium partners is key to successful project preparation and funding applications.

Funding & Support

• EU grants and programs (Green Deal, Innovation Fund, Recovery Plans).
• Public-private partnerships and ESCO financing models.
• Technical support for project preparation and documentation.