JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Bulgaria is particularly enthusiastic about establishing hydrogen collaboration with stakeholders from South Africa – and is fully prepared to initiate cooperation "right away".

Research secondments, doctorate opportunities, joint research activities are on offer from this Balkan State, which is developing a master's programme in hydrogen technologies in cooperation with its European partners.

Although Centre of Excellence in Hydrogen Technologies in Stara Zagora (H2START) is newly started, its first laboratories, combining education and hands-on training, are expected to open within a year and a warm welcome is being extended to South African students.

Pleasingly, Bulgaria’s green hydrogen valley in Stara Zagora (ZAHYR Valley) has opted for proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology, which is music to South Africa’s ears owing to PEM’s use of platinum group metals.

The March-launched H2START aims to boost hydrogen education, research, and industry partnerships and will be equipped to research hydrogen production, storage and transportation.

An industrial and logistics centre on the Balkan Peninsula, Stara Zagora is transitioning away from coal, making it a perfect place to showcase the industrial and socially transformative potential of green hydrogen as a zero-carbon fossil fuels alternative.

Bulgaria is intent on developing the entire hydrogen value chain – from production to local distribution and application.

Interestingly, the ZAHYR Valley is set to be completed by 2028 and will be at the centre of Bulgaria’s hydrogen production, contributing to overall development of the hydrogen economy. Thus, in the next decade, Bulgaria is set to become an export hub for green hydrogen, which would solidify its role in the EU Southeast Hydrogen Corridor.

Meanwhile, H2START is a teaming project between Trakia University – Stara Zagora, the Bulgarian Association for Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Energy Storage, the Polytechnic University of Turin and the Institute for Advanced Energy Technologies at the National Research Centre of Italy.

Importantly, Bulgaria’s solar power capacity, which has grown over the past three years from 1.2 GW to 4.5 GW, has potential to hit 40 GW amid latent offshore and onshore wind energy opportunities also existing.

The 250 km hydrogen pipeline under feasibility study from Greece to Bulgaria and likely also Romania would provide capacity for large-scale hydrogen demand should it be developed.

Institutionally, Bulgaria’s broad-based developmental and technology framework is providing stimuli for green hydrogen application in industry, transport and energy, complemented by enhancing scientific research, skilling the green hydrogen economy through educational and cross-sectoral collaboration and encouraging international partnerships.

On the educational front, Bulgaria is going to the extent of preparing a “Teach the Teacher” programme to ensure effective implementation of hydrogen curricula from the beginning.

Very generously, it has been made clear that interested schools and universities would be well received and by way of initial contact, has requested that institution names, contact persons and email addresses be made known through the Bulgarian Embassy.

This comprehensive insight has been provided to Engineering News & Mining Weekly by the Bulgarian Ambassador to South Africa, Maria Pavlova, as well as the Bulgarian Hydrogen, Fuel Cells Committee and Energy Storage Association chairperson, Professor Dr Daria Vladikova, who is also Professor at the Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, head of the Department of Hydrogen Technologies in the Institute of Sustainable Transition and Growth of Trakia University and co-ordinator of the H2START project.

Mining Weekly: What are the factors that have led to Bulgaria’s decision to pursue a strategy aimed at enabling the country to enter the hydrogen economy?

Pavlova: In recent years, green hydrogen has emerged as a core pillar of Bulgaria’s strategy for clean energy transition and energy independence. The primary factor driving this specialisation is the goal to decarbonise high intensity sectors, while taking advantage of the abundant solar potential, which allows for the production of green hydrogen competitively. It’s also important to note the existing well-developed transmission infrastructure and geographic location, which solidify Bulgaria’s role in the Central and Eastern European, or CEE, dimension of Europe’s hydrogen infrastructure network. The strong educational and scientific capacity in industrial and applied sciences is another favourable factor, which catalyses hydrogen innovation.

What are the opportunities for Bulgaria to collaborate with South Africa?

Education and science have always been central pillars of the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and South Africa, who are expected to sign a memorandum on scientific, technological and innovation cooperation this year. Bulgaria’s growing expertise and specialisation in green hydrogen naturally aligns with South Africa’s strategic interest and competitive advantages to develop the hydrogen economy. As both countries accelerate their hydrogen production, viable cooperation can take place in joint research and development, training and knowledge exchange. The shift to a hydrogen-based economy has significant environmental and social impact. This is gaining growing interest in Bulgarian universities and research institutes, which could further collaborate with their South African counterparts to share knowledge and advance research. Interesting to explore is possible collaboration under the H2START project, which aims to create the next generation of hydrogen scientists and engineers. Being the first of its kind in Southeast Europe, the centre will be able to attract and educate top specialists and researchers as well as companies investing in hydrogen technology.

How exactly will H2START leverage international partnerships to achieve its goals? Does Bulgaria collaborate with any African entities within the EU-wide hydrogen programmes?

Vladikova: H2START is a teaming initiative, focused on establishing a high-level research and innovation ecosystem dedicated to hydrogen technologies with the combined efforts of all partners in the consortium. At its heart is the creation of a centre of excellence (CoE) at Trakia University in Bulgaria. This centre will not only serve the project’s core partners but will also be open to universities, research institutions, and companies interested in utilising its services or joining the educational and research programmes outlined in the centre’s strategic research and innovation agenda. The CoE will offer cutting-edge infrastructure and services aimed at attracting, developing, and retaining top research talent, while actively promoting collaboration with industry to enhance innovation and technology transfer. Our international partners include some of the EU’s most prominent institutions in hydrogen research and education, with strong connections to the European hydrogen industry. This collaborative model makes the centre unique, not only within Bulgaria but across the wider Eastern European region. The centre is envisioned as a lighthouse for scientific excellence and innovation in hydrogen technologies, extending its impact both nationally and internationally. Although the H2START project began only five months ago, we expect our first laboratories, combining education and hands-on training, to open within a year. We warmly welcome students from South Africa for research secondments, PhD opportunities, and joint research activities. In parallel, we are also developing our first master's programme in hydrogen technologies in cooperation with our European partners. One of our main tools for international engagement is the Stakeholders Network, a growing platform that brings together universities, research centres, companies, ministries, and local authorities. Building a stable educational, legislative, and administrative framework is an essential foundation for a future hydrogen economy. We are particularly enthusiastic about establishing collaboration on hydrogen with stakeholders from South Africa. To return to the topic of collaboration opportunities in education between Bulgaria and South Africa within the EU hydrogen programmes, I would like to emphasise that we are fully prepared to initiate cooperation right away. Trakia University is a partner in the European Hydrogen Academy, a pan-European project aiming to accelerate hydrogen education in both schools and universities. The project’s objective is to establish a network of 500 schools and 100 universities, including participants beyond Europe. As a partner of this project, Trakia University already includes a school and a university from Namibia in the network. The project is preparing ten university textbooks and school-level textbooks and tools on hydrogen, which will be distributed free of charge to support educators across the network. Recognising the importance of starting well, we are also preparing a “Teach the Teacher” programme to ensure effective implementation of hydrogen curricula from the beginning. I would be pleased to receive, through the Bulgarian Embassy, a list of interested schools and universities in South Africa. For an initial contact, we kindly request the name of the institution and a contact person with an email address.

Is it envisaged that PEM technology will be the main technology used to electrolyse hydrogen generation in the ZAHYR Valley?

The two leading technologies for producing hydrogen through water electrolysis are alkaline and PEM electrolysis. Alkaline electrolysers represent a well-established and mature technology, currently the most cost-effective option. On the other hand, PEM electrolysers, which use a polymer PEM, have reached a sufficient level of maturity to be strong competitors. Although they require a higher initial investment, their advantages, such as ease of operation and maintenance, good durability, and suitability for dynamic operation make them particularly well-suited for direct integration with renewable-energy sources. For these reasons, ZAHYR has chosen to use a PEM electrolyser. Speaking of the ZAHYR Hydrogen Valley, I want to highlight the significant role hydrogen valleys play in introducing hydrogen technologies, especially in countries without prior experience in demonstration projects. This was the case in Bulgaria, where we recognised the vital importance of the Hydrogen Valley project in accelerating both hydrogen production and utilisation.

How much of the hydrogen will likely be used domestically and how much will be exported? What will be Bulgaria’s role in the development of the EU hydrogen transport network?

As a new and innovative niche emerging within the economy, hydrogen deployment must not be introduced in a fragmented manner. It requires a comprehensive national strategy and coordinated efforts across academia, industry, policymakers, and society, supported by both financial and non-financial national instruments. At the European level, we benefit from a common EU strategy, along with robust mechanisms for research, innovation, demonstration, and deployment. Each member State also develops its own national strategy, aligned with EU directives and regulations while reflecting local specificities. In Bulgaria, we have a National Hydrogen Roadmap that mirrors European objectives while addressing national conditions. According to the roadmap, 60% of the hydrogen produced will be used to decarbonise the Bulgarian economy, and the remaining 40% is intended for export. Bulgaria’s renewables potential positions it as an attractive region for renewable hydrogen production and export – particularly to Central European countries. To support this vision, the European Hydrogen Backbone now includes the South-East European Corridor. Bulgaria is playing an active and strategic role within the South-Eastern Corridor. We are working to accelerate collaboration among all involved countries, including end-users. I am proud to note that our Hydrogen Association plays a significant and recognised role in driving this process forward.