Hydrogen is accelerating in Italy
The Italian government plans to dedicate EUR 3.64 billion for the establishment of hydrogen hubs and the enhancement of infrastructure to facilitate the transmission of this fuel.
Several months ago, the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy greenlit 54 projects aimed at advancing hydrogen technologies, securing a total funding of EUR 724 million. Now, under the local KPO initiative, the ministry is set to allocate significantly larger funds for the establishment of a facility dedicated to producing this environmentally friendly energy source.
This substantial investment will lead to the construction of electrolysers boasting a combined capacity of 124.5 MW, enabling the annual production of 7,000 tons of green hydrogen.
Significant share of photovoltaics, surprisingly low carbon
At present, electricity production in this country is primarily dominated by gas (constituting approximately half of the total production) and hydroelectric power plants. The remainder of the production is divided equally among photovoltaics, wind energy, biofuels, waste, coal, and oil.
Source: International Energy Agency, 2023 .
At the gray end of green investments
Italy currently holds the lowest rank in Europe concerning the number of green hydrogen projects. Out of the 631 hydrogen investments slated for the European Community, only 24 are earmarked for implementation on the Italian Peninsula.
According to a report from Corriere Della Serra, Italy has the potential to swiftly reverse this situation, not only through the planned investments in green hydrogen installations under the KPO but also due to its leading position in innovative patents related to hydrogen. According to a joint study by the European Patent Office (EPO) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) in 2022, Italy holds the fifth position in Europe for innovative patents in the realm of hydrogen, particularly those related to green or non-fossil sources.
Nuclear power plants on the European wave
Apart from its emphasis on hydrogen, the Italian government has recently directed substantial attention towards the advancement of biogas plants. Italy is also witnessing a surge in European interest in nuclear energy, akin to Poland, driven by the events in Ukraine and the ensuing uncertainties in fossil fuel supplies and prices. Consequently, there are considerations for the construction of the first Small Modular Reactors (SMR) in the country.