The creation of a Hydrogen Valley Italy is an important and necessary step to succeed in launching a hydrogen economy in our country.
In fact, new hydrogen production projects are already being set up in various locations in Italy with the aim of making Italy a Hydrogen Valley by 2030.
Specifically, the term Hydrogen Valley refers to areas with a largely hydrogen-based economy, thanks to on-site production and its use in industry and local transport.
In this context, the Hydrogen Valley represents a kind of incubator for technologies, components, products and services related to the hydrogen industrial chain.
The objectives of the Italian Hydrogen Valley
The objective of the creation of Hydrogen Valley Italy is to foster the decarbonisation process promoted by the European Union, to achieve carbon neutrality (zero emissions) by 2050.
With this aim in mind, last June the government signed the first protocols of understanding with the regions to launch some energy projects included in the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan).
In particular, the projects are aimed at creating a high-tech infrastructure that will allow, in collaboration with companies, research institutes, and universities, the experimentation of technologies for the production of hydrogen.
But let us see in more detail what these Italian projects are.
Hydrogen Valley: the projects in Italy
As far as the Hydogen Valley projects in Italy are concerned, according to the memoranda of understanding signed by the government, the first production plants will be built in disused industrial areas between:
Specifically, the plants will have to produce no more than 3 tonnes of carbon dioxide per tonne of gas.
The total capacity, in 2026, will have to be between 1 and 5 megawatts.
In the government’s intentions, these sites will help bring Italy closer to its energy and climate targets, but also stimulate growth and create jobs.
The Hydrogen Valley project of the Piemonte Region
Piemonte Region plans to invest an additional EUR 80 million on top of the PNRR resources.
In particular, it has already identified 28 disused industrial sites that will become hydrogen production centres:
- 12 in Torino
- 8 in Novara
- 4 in Cuneo
- 3 in the province of Verbanio-Cusio-Ossola
- 1 in Vercelli
The plan is to extend the experiments to transport as well, through the use of hydrogen on local road and rail transport, the renewal of the fleet with green buses and trains.
Hydrogen recharging and supply sites for lorries arriving from northern Europe could also be installed here.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia and the North Adriatic cross-border Hydrogen Valley project
Friuli-Venezia Giulia has initiated a cooperation with Slovenia and Croatia to set up the North Adriatic cross-border Hydrogen Valley project.
In particular, through this project the region aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2045.
Furthermore, the clean energy sector will attract considerable investments. For this reason, the Region is ready to share its expertise, scientific and industrial assets and experience on its territory to realise the Hydrogen Valley.
Hydrogen storage and distribution sites for the Hydrogen Valley in Basilicata
The Basilicata project envisages the construction of hydrogen and liquid methane (GNL) storage and distribution sites in the region’s main industrial areas.
Production will also be flanked by research.
In particular, the creation of a national high-tech centre for the realisation of research and technology transfer projects on hydrogen mobility is planned.
The Puglia Green Hydrogen Valley project
The company Alboran Hydrogen Brindisi, bought by Edison (50%) and Saipem (10%), will have the exclusive right to develop the Puglia Green Hydrogen Valley project, which envisages the production of hydrogen from renewable sources.
Specifically, the project aims to build three green hydrogen production plants in:
- Brindisi
- Taranto
- Cerignola (Foggia)
These plants, powered by photovoltaic production, will have a total capacity of 220 MW and will be able to produce 300 million cubic metres of renewable hydrogen per year.
The project also involves regional entities such as the Acquedotto Pugliese, Ferrovie Apulo Lucane, the Apulian technological and production districts, the Politecnico of Bari, and the Universities of Bari, Foggia and Salento.
The Hydrogen Valley project in Umbria
For the Region of Umbria, the signing of the protocol of understanding with the government for the creation of a Hydrogen Valley represents an event of great importance.
In fact, it will make it possible to concretely launch the realisation of a project that will contribute to making Umbria one of the pilot poles at the national level for the production of hydrogen.
This is part of a broader regional framework that envisages the provision of green energy to the Umbrian business system.
We at Simplifhy welcome the start of concrete projects by institutions to realise Italy’s first Hydrogen Valley.
As the first Italian solution provider able to offer strategies and systems for the decarbonisation of industry through the use of hydrogen-based technologies, we are ready to make our know-how and solutions available.
In particular, we realise custom-made projects designed to meet the specific needs of each customer.
Contact us for more information.
