Green Hydrogen in Serbian Transport: A review of Technologies, Challenges and Prospects
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30544/RSD112Ključne reči:
green hydrogen, transport, Serbia, fuel cell vehicles, decarbonizationApstrakt
The transport sector significantly contributes to global CO₂ emissions, necessitating a transition towards sustainable, low-carbon alternatives. Green hydrogen, produced via water electrolysis using renewable energy, has emerged as a particularly promising solution for heavy-duty, public, and intercity transport where battery electrification faces limitations. This review systematically analyzes the technological, environmental, and economic aspects of hydrogen applications in transport, with a specific focus on the Republic of Serbia. The methodology follows PRISMA guidelines for systematic literature review of scientific publications, industry reports, and strategic documents from 2010 to 2026. Results indicate that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles offer high efficiency, long range, and fast refueling times, yet their widespread adoption is hindered by high costs, infrastructure deficits, and the need for sustainably produced hydrogen. Globally, Europe and Asia lead in infrastructure development, while Serbia is in early stages, with pilot projects such as HyDSerbia and the H2V Rasina Hydrogen Valley underway. The paper concludes that Serbia possesses the research base and strategic interest to develop a hydrogen economy, but faces significant challenges in infrastructure, financing, and regulatory alignment. Key future directions include establishing refueling stations, implementing fleet trials in public transport, and integrating into European hydrogen networks.
Reference
Al Zohbi G., Almoaikel A., Al Shuhail L. J. E. R., An overview on the technologies used to store hydrogen, Energy Reports, 2023, 9, 28-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2023.08.072,
Angelico R., Giametta F., Bianchi B., Catalano P., Green hydrogen for energy transition: A critical perspective. Energies, 18(2), 2025, 404, https://doi.org/10.3390/en18020404,
Backović N., Ilić B., Radaković J. A., Mitrović D., Milenković N., Ćirović M., Petrović N., Towards 2050: Evaluating the Role of Energy Transformation for Sustainable Energy Growth in Serbia, Sustainability, 16 (16), 2024, 7204. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16167204,
Baral S. Šebo J., Techno-economic assessment of green hydrogen production integrated with hybrid and organic Rankine cycle (ORC) systems, Heliyon 10 (4), 2024, e25742, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25742,
Bernardino J., Aggelakakis A., Reichenbach M., Vieira J., Boile M., Schippl J., Christidis P, Papanikolaou A, Condeco A, Garcia H. Krail M., Transport demand evolution in Europe—factors of change, scenarios and challenges, European Journal of Futures Research, 3 (1), 2015, 13,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40309-015-0072-y,
Chen C., Xia Q., Feng S. Liu Q., A novel solar hydrogen production system integrating high temperature electrolysis with ammonia based thermochemical energy storage, Energy Conversion and Management, 237, 2021, 114143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2021.114143,
Cigu E., Agheorghiesei D. T., Gavriluță A. F., Toader E., Transport infrastructure development, public performance and long-run economic growth: a case study for the Eu-28 countries. Sustainability, 11(1), 2018, 67. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010067,
Das H. S., Chowdhury M. F. F., Li, S., Tan C. W., Fuel cell and hydrogen power plants, Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems and Microgrids, 2021, 313-349. Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-821724-5.00009-X,
Dash S. K., Chakraborty S., Roccotelli M., Sahu U. K., Hydrogen fuel for future mobility: challenges and future aspects. Sustainability, 14 (14), 2022, 8285. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148285,
Deng Z., Zhu B., Davis S. J., Clais P., Liu Z., Global carbon emissions and decarbonization in 2025, Nature Reviews Earth and Environment, 7, 2026, 274-276, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-026-00780-4,
Energetika.news, 2025. Ambicije razvoja vodonika suočavaju se sa realnošću elektroenergetskog sistema Srbije. Available at: https://energetika.news/ambicije-razvoja-vodonika-suocavaju-se-sa-realnoscu-elektroenergetskog-sistema-srbije/, Accessed 28 March 2026,
Eriksson E. L. V., Gray E. M., Optimization and integration of hybrid renewable energy hydrogen fuel cell energy systems-A critical review. Applied Energy, 202, 2017, 348-364, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.03.132,
EAFO Data Update European Commission; European Alternative Fuels Observatory. 2025. Last updated 16.07.2025.,
European Commission, 2020a. A hydrogen strategy for a climate-neutral Europe. COM/2020/301 final, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52020DC0301, Accessed 28 March 2026,
European Commission, 2020b. About the EU ETS. 2003/87/EC,
EHB European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB), Five Years of the European Hydrogen Backbone: Progress and Outlook, 2025. https://ehb.eu/, Accessed 28 March 2026,
EUpravo zato, 2024. Koliko se u Srbiji voze električni automobili i hibridi? Mondo. Available at: https://eupravozato.mondo.rs/energetika-i-zivotna-sredina/odrziva-mobilnost/a3989/Koliko-se-u-Srbiji-voze-elektricni-automobili-i-hibridi.html, Accessed 28 March 2026,
Fakhreddine O., Gharbia Y., Derakhshandeh J. F., Amer A. M., Challenges and solutions of hydrogen fuel cells in transportation systems: A review and prospects. World Electric Vehicle Journal, 14(6), 2023, 156. https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj14060156,
Fuel Cells Works, 2025, Global Hydrogen Stations Overview, https://fuelcellsworks.com/, Accessed 28 March 2026,
Gurz M., Baltacioglu E., Hames Y., Kaya K., The meeting of hydrogen and automotive: A review. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 42(36), 2017, 23334-23346, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.02.124,
H2 Cluster Srbija, 2025, Nacrt strategije za vodonik u Srbiji, https://www.h2cluster.rs/nacrt-strategije-za-vodonik-u-srbiji/,Accessed 28 March 2026,
Hosseini S. E., Butler B., An overview of development and challenges in hydrogen powered vehicles. International Journal of Green Energy, 17(1), 2020, 13-37, https://doi.org/10.1080/15435075.2019.1685999,
Howarth R. W., Jacobson M. Z., How green is blue hydrogen? Energy Science & Engineering, 9(10), 2021, 1676-1687. https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.956
IEA (International Energy Agency), 2025. Global Hydrogen Review 2025. Paris: IEA,
IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency, Patent Landscape Report. Decarboniying Heavy-Duty Road Transport. 2026. 1092EN/26,
ITF 2023, International Transport Forum Transport Outlook, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/b6cc9ad5-en,
Jovanović I., Tašić D., Mikić M., Presburger-Ulniković V., Staletović, N., Nikolić V., Clean energy technologies: The impact of renewable sources on the environment and energy security, Mining and Metallurgy Engineering Bor, 25(1), 2025, 21, https://doi.org/10.5937/mmeb2501021J,
Kakoulaki G., Kougias I., Taylor N., Dolci F., Moya J., Jäger-Waldau A., Green hydrogen in Europe – A regional assessment: Substituting existing production with electrolysis powered by renewables. Energy Conversion and Management, 228, 2021, 113649, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2020.113649,
Kalghatgi G., Levinsky H., Colket M., Future transportation fuels. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 69, 2018, 103-105, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2018.06.003,
Khan D., Burdzik R., A review on different regulation for the measurement of transport noise and vibration. Journal of Measurements in Engineering, 11(2), 2023, 196-213, https://doi.org/10.21595/jme.2023.23279,
Kostić N., Električni automobili u Srbiji 2025 – Sve što treba da znate. TechFokus. 2025, Available at: https://techfokus.rs/elektricni-automobili-u-srbiji/, Accessed 28 March 2026,
Mayrhofer M., Koller M., Seemann P., Prieler R., Hochenauer C., Assessment of natural gas/hydrogen blends as an alternative fuel for industrial heat treatment furnaces. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 46 (41), 2021, 21672-21686. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.03.228,
Ministry of Mining and Energy, Republic of Serbia. 2025, Energy Development Strategy of the Republic of Serbia by 2040 with projections by 2050. Belgrade,
Newborough M., Cooley G., Developments in the global hydrogen market: The spectrum of hydrogen colours. Fuel Cells Bulletin, (11), 2020, 16-22, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1464-2859(20)30546-0,
Nicoletti G., Arcuri N., Nicoletti G., Bruno R., A technical and environmental comparison between hydrogen and some fossil fuels. Energy Conversion and Management, 89, 2015, 205-213, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2014.09.057,
Nikolaidis P., Poullikkas A., A comparative overview of hydrogen processes. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. (67), 2017, 597-611, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.09.044,
Nijkamp P., Globalization, international transport and the global environment: A research and policy challenge. Transportation Planning and Technology, 26(1), 2003, 1-8, https://doi.org/10.1080/03081060309912,
Page M. J., McKenzie J. E., Bossuyt P. M., Boutron I., Hoffmann T. C., Mulrow C. D., … Moher D., The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews, BMJ, 2021, 372, n71, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71,
Paraschiv S., Paraschiv L. S. Serban A., Global hydrogen production capacity for sustainable decarbonization and green transition in transport applications to mitigate climate change: a comprehensive overview. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, ahead-of-print, 37 (2), 277-296, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-10-2024-0461,
Pawlak S., Małysa T., Fornalczyk A., Sobianowska-Turek A., Kuczyńska-Chałada M., Analysis of Opportunities to Reduce CO2 and NOX Emissions Through the Improvement of Internal Inter-Operational Transport. Sustainability, 17 (13), 2025, 5974, https://doi.org/10.3390/su17135974,
Presburger Ulniković, V., Radosavljević A., Božilović B., Ćirišan A., Serbia's path to climate resilience: A critical assessment of the Climate Change Law and its implications, Global Sustainability Challenges, 3 (1), 2025, 31–37,
https://doi.org/10.62907/uunt_gsc25030,
Pustějovská K., Janovská K., Jursová S., Alternative sources of energy in transport: A review, Processes, 11(5), 2023, 1517. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11051517,
RZS, 2026, Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, Radonjič S., Đurić V., Milivojević J., Nikolić I., Albijanić T., 2026. Bulletin, Energy Balances, ISSN 0354-3641, 2024, 42,
Staletović N., Nikolić V., Presburger Ulniković V., Pavlović A., Risk assessment management and environmental protection planning in the solar panels production using FMEA method. In: Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Sustainable Environment and Technologies, 2024, 216–223,
Stojić N., Štrbac S., Ćurčić L., Pucarević M., Prokić D., Stepanov J., Stojić G., Exploring the impact of transportation on heavy metal pollution: A comparative study of trains and cars. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 125, 2023, 103966, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2023.103966,
Trivić B., Batić I., Petrović M., Nova regulativa u oblasti strateškog razvoja energetskog sektora u Republici Srbiji. Energija, ekonomija, ekologija, 27 (3), 2025, 14-20, https://doi.org/10.46793/EEE25-3.14P,
Vorwerg F. C., Ebadi Torkayesh A., Venghaus S., From fossil fuels to alternative fuels: strategy development for a sustainable transport sector in Germany. Energy, Sustainability and Society, 15 (1), 2025, 4, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-024-00498-5,
Wendler F., Climate change policy in the EU: from the Paris agreement to the European green deal, Framing Climate Change in the EU and US after the Paris Agreement, 2022, 65-117. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04059-7_3.

