Montenegro has taken a strategic step toward a hydrogen-driven energy future by formally adopting a national program for the development of green hydrogen accompanied by a detailed action plan for 2026–2028. The initiative, led by Zorana Sekulić, acting Director of the Directorate for Oil and Gas at the Ministry of Energy and Mining of Montenegro, positions hydrogen as a central component of the country’s medium- and long-term energy transformation.
The program — finalised in late 2025 after an earlier draft and public discussion — defines Montenegro’s strategic vision for green hydrogen, outlining where its application offers the greatest potential economic and environmental benefits. While hydrogen will not be deployed en masse in the immediate future, the government’s approach emphasises phased development, building regulatory and institutional foundations first, followed by pilot and demonstration projects under the 2026–2028 action plan.
Officials involved in drafting the program have noted that Montenegro currently lacks the scale and industrial base for broad commercial use of hydrogen. Consequently, initial efforts will prioritise sectors where decarbonisation is most challenging, including road and maritime transport and public transit, where alternatives to hydrogen are limited or less effective. There is also significant focus on the role of hydrogen in energy system balancing, particularly as renewable electricity from wind and solar expands.
The action plan lays out steps to establish a regulatory framework, build institutional capacity, introduce specialised educational programs, and strengthen regional and international cooperation. Montenegro aims to be ready to integrate hydrogen technologies as they mature commercially, rather than rushing commercial deployment ahead of necessary infrastructure and market conditions.
Academic and research institutions in Montenegro, including faculties at the University of Montenegro, are already engaged in hydrogen research, including storage technologies and alternative fuels. This scholarly foundation supports the broader policy objective of developing a skilled workforce capable of advancing hydrogen innovation domestically.
Regional projects, most notably the Adriatic-Ionian Pipeline (IAP) initiative, are identified as important future infrastructure links that could serve both hydrogen and natural gas flows and tie Montenegro more closely into emerging European hydrogen networks. Securing strategic project statuses and aligning with EU network development plans remain key priorities to enhance Montenegro’s role within the wider energy transition architecture.
The program’s environmental assessment indicates that green hydrogen development is compatible with Montenegro’s climate goals, with benefits expected in greenhouse gas reduction and air quality improvements, provided that construction and deployment adhere to strict environmental standards.
While hydrogen remains at an early stage in Montenegro, the government’s strategic and systematic preparation signals an intent to compete in what is widely seen as a future cornerstone of decarbonised energy systems across Europe and the region.
