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Italy

Key Takeaways
  • The National Recovery and Resilience Plan (in Italian : Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza, PNRR), leverages the EU’s recovery fund to finance hydrogen projects extensively.
  • The foreseen demand is 250 thousand tonnes of hydrogen per year by 2030.
  • Due to its geographical position, Italy has potential to serve as a clean energy hub for Europe, leveraging the importation of green hydrogen from North Africa.
Piemonte, Valle d'Aosta - Vallée d'Aoste, Liguria, Lombardia, Bozen - Bolzano, Trento, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia
Strategy readiness level
No strategy
Under development
Under implementation

Why does SKHYLINE present only selected country profiles and specific regions
The information collected in this section is the result of a study conducted within the Interreg Alpine Space AMETHyST project (2022 – 2025). The Alpine Space Programme covers regions of seven Alpine countries (Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, and Switzerland). The information and data presented here were collected with the cooperation of the AMETHyST consortium and aim to be as comprehensive as possible, but they are limited to the outreach of project partners. Therefore, any missing information on specific countries or regions may be due to constraints in data availability or regional involvement beyond the scope of the current collaboration. There is, however, potential for future improvements and additions as new data becomes available and the project evolves.
Last information update: September 2024

A State-of-the Art in Italy on Green and Low Carbon Hydrogen Policies

Italy initiated the development of a national hydrogen strategy in 2020 to aid in the decarbonization of its economy, aligning with European climate objectives.  A preliminary document released by the Ministry of Economic Development, subject to public consultation from November 24 to December 21, 2020, outlined plans for investments totalling approximately 10 billion euros ($12 billion) by 2030, with half of this funding expected from European sources and private investments.  The Italian National Hydrogen Strategy was then officially presented by the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE, Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica) November 26, 2024. The strategy confirms the commitment of the Italian Government to recognize hydrogen as one of the key solutions for achieving the decarbonization goals set within the National Integrated Climate and Energy Plan (in Italian: PNIEC, Piano Nazionale Integrato per l’Energia e il Clima) for 2030 and the Net Zero target for 2050. Different scenarios for short- (now – 2030), medium- (2030 – 2040), and long-term (2040 – 2050) spread of green and low-carbon hydrogen are outlined. The document considers the peculiarities and technological options of each sector where hydrogen could potentially be used (mobility, industry, civil sector). It also incorporates input from stakeholders across the entire value chain. Considering high volumes of domestic hydrogen production (as outlined in the National Integrated Climate and Energy Plan, i.e., 70% domestic production and 30% imports), approximately 4.47 – 8.35 Mtoe of hydrogen are estimated and planned to be produced mostly as green hydrogen from electrolysis (15 – 30 GW electrolyzers), with a smaller but significant contribution from blue hydrogen and biogenic hydrogen. Hydrogen consumption would reach up to 10.57 Mtoe, mostly used for the mobility sector and the hard-to-abate industries. The introduction of hydrogen and its derivatives into the energy system presents significant opportunities for the country to develop a sustainable technological value chain. This strategy aims to analyze and direct these opportunities to support economic and industrial growth and enhance the competitiveness of companies involved in the broader decarbonization process.

Timeline

Local specifics

The Region Liguria and the port and maritime authority, the national rail network operator RFI, the chamber of commerce, the University of Genova and the association of municipalities ANCI Liguria, signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the promotion, dissemination, and implementation in Liguria of energy production, transport systems, and facilities. It defines the following points of joint action:

  • Promotion and enhancement of hydrogen, in terms of spreading knowledge, raising risk awareness, and fostering social acceptance;
  • Development of hydrogen distribution through the evaluation of the possible use of ecological goods and services by businesses and Public Administration;
  • Analysis of the social (e.g., employment), industrial (e.g., impact on various sectors), and environmental impacts of hydrogen supply chain development at the regional level, and the design of appropriate regulatory and incentive measures;
  • Experimentation with innovative solutions to optimize the use of hydrogen;
  • Definition of functional partnerships for European project planning.


Link to the memorandum of understanding:
unige.it/protocollo_intesa_Idrogeno.pdf

The region has launched a number of initiatives and programmes to promote its development. This includes funding for research and development of green hydrogen technologies, as well as for the construction of hydrogen production plants and distribution networks. 

Particular focus is on the hydrogen valley H2iseO: an Italian hydrogen valley for sustainable mobility. 

“H2iseO Hydrogen Valley” is a project implemented by FNM, FERROVIENORD and Trenord, which aims to decarbonise public transport services and encourage the transition to a more sustainable transport system. 

The project comprises:
The development of an economic and industrial district based on hydrogen, starting from mobility applications.

The development of a geographic district based on hydrogen, in order to enable and support the energy conversion of the area.

The total decarbonisation of the main components of local public transport.

The “hydrogenization” and decarbonization of the Brescia-Iseo-Edolo railway line as the first user of hydrogen means that hydrogen production and distribution infrastructures can be set up in the area to support the local economic and industrial sector.

Further information:
fnmgroup.it

The Regional Hydrogen Strategy of Piedmont serves as a reference framework for regional actions and policies related to hydrogen, outlining the key priorities for policy and investment in this area. On one hand, the Strategy aims to enhance regional expertise, on the other hand, it seeks to seize opportunities supporting hydrogen as a cornerstone of the EU’s energy and industrial decarbonization strategy, aligning with the main European programmatic instruments.

The document is structured around four areas of intervention:

  • Production Diversification, Research, Development, and Innovation
  • Mobility and Transportation
  • Hydrogen Production, Distribution, and Energy Use
  • Cross-Cutting Areas

The governance and implementation of the Strategy will be entrusted to a dedicated “Hydrogen Team”, which will also engage with stakeholders within the regional system.

Further information:
regione.piemonte.it

South Tyrol has not adopted a hydrogen strategy, however the Province has emerged early as a leader in Italy, initiating projects and initiatives to establish itself as a “Hydrogen Valley”, a concept involving integrated hydrogen value chains within specific geographical areas. 

Located on the Brenner Corridor, South Tyrol is a key transit region for heavy road transport, crucial for decarbonization efforts.

Along with nine other regions, within the EUSALP macrostrategy it aims to enhance cooperation in the hydrogen sector.

The region is actively leveraging its strategic location and collaborative efforts to become a leader in hydrogen applications and infrastructure. The focus remains on building a robust local hydrogen ecosystem, aligning stakeholders, and addressing regulatory and market challenges to achieve sustainable growth and innovation in the hydrogen sector.

Description of the Hydrogen valley: 
h2v.eu/hydrogen-valleys

Public subsidies

Financial support schemes are in place to encourage the roll-out of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).

Useful links and contents

Territory points

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Linked projects

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Hy2Green
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H2-South Tyrol
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H2iseO
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MEHRLIN
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Additional contents

Roundtable category icon.
Roundtables
Key insights from the AMETHyST inter-regional exchange program: Visit to GKN Hydrogen (Pfalzen, South Tirol)
Study visit category icon.
Study Visits
Key insights from the AMETHyST inter-regional exchange program: Visit to GKN Hydrogen (Pfalzen, South Tirol)