Italy unveiled its National Hydrogen Strategy in December 2020, aiming to achieve complete decarbonization by 2050.
This strategy is a key policy for Italy’s energy transition and sustainable economic growth, focusing on promoting hydrogen usage in industries, transportation, and energy production. One of the primary goals is to meet 2% of Italy’s final energy demand with hydrogen by 2030 and increase this to 20% by 2050.
In June 2024, the Italian government submitted the 2024 Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan to the EU, further strengthening its hydrogen policy. According to this plan, Italy aims to increase the production and import of green hydrogen, significantly targeting the production and import of 10 million tons of hydrogen by 2030. This goal aligns with the European Union’s REPowerEU plan, which is expected to be crucial in achieving Italy’s energy independence and emission reduction targets.
Italy is also accelerating infrastructure development to build a hydrogen economy. The SoutH2 Corridor project is an extensive collaboration between Italy, Austria, and Germany to establish a 3300 km hydrogen pipeline network transporting green hydrogen produced in North Africa through Sicily to Austria and Germany. This network intends to supply hydrogen mixed with natural gas through existing gas pipelines, reducing carbon emissions in the energy supply while strengthening the hydrogen supply chain. Italy plans to reuse 73% of its existing gas pipeline network and build 27% of new infrastructure, with this project expected to meet approximately 40% of the EU’s hydrogen import targets.
Italy’s hydrogen strategy focuses on utilizing hydrogen in sectors that are hard to decrease, especially the industrial and transportation sectors. The government aims to promote hydrogen production based on renewable energy sources and build related infrastructure. The primary goals can be divided into three main areas. The first is decarbonizing industries, particularly energy-intensive sectors like steel, chemicals, and refining, to reduce carbon emissions using hydrogen. These hard-to-abate industries are significant energy consumers, and their decarbonization through hydrogen is seen as pivotal in achieving Europe’s green transition goals.
The second area targets accelerating energy transition by combining hydrogen with renewable energy sources to diversify the energy mix and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Italy is working to expand the proportion of green hydrogen produced using electricity generated from solar and wind. The country aims to install about 10 GW of electrolyzers linked to renewable energy sources to supplement the instability of renewable energy production and enhance the stability of the energy system.
The final focus is on building hydrogen infrastructure. Italy is establishing hydrogen hubs nationwide and expanding hydrogen transportation pipeline networks. This involves setting up hydrogen hubs in 52 locations nationwide and building an integrated hydrogen transport network at the national level to stimulate the hydrogen economy.
Italy is actively pursuing hydrogen technology development and is one of the leading countries in Europe in this field. The focus is on producing green hydrogen using renewable energy, accelerating the transition. This effort is driven mainly by private companies and has become a crucial part of the national energy strategy.
Italy’s hydrogen industry is developing in two main directions. The first involves using renewable energy sources, particularly solar and wind, for hydrogen production, which plays a key role in large-scale projects. Italy is becoming a center for clean energy production through these projects. The second direction focuses on hydrogen storage and transportation technology. Italy is developing high-pressure compression and liquified hydrogen storage technology to safely and efficiently transport hydrogen domestically and internationally.
Private sector investment actively supports Italy’s hydrogen projects, with companies like SNAM, ENI, Enel Group, Ansaldo Energia, and FuelCell Italia leading efforts in building hydrogen infrastructure, producing green hydrogen, and developing hydrogen fuel cell technology.
The growth of Italy’s hydrogen industry, largely driven by the private sector, is expected to play a vital role in achieving the country’s energy transition and industrial decarbonization goals. South Korean companies could explore various opportunities for technology cooperation with Italy in the hydrogen industry.
