On November 26, 2024, the Italian government has officially launched its National Hydrogen Strategy, a comprehensive roadmap to decarbonize the national economy and position Italy as a strategic hub in Europe’s hydrogen ecosystem by 2050.
The strategy outlines a long-term vision with phased targets to scale up hydrogen production, infrastructure, and applications across industry and transport. It highlights hydrogen’s central role in meeting Italy’s climate goals and driving the green transition.
Key Milestones and Targets
The plan is structured into three main phases:
- By 2030: Establishment of “Hydrogen Valleys” – local hydrogen production and consumption zones – and installation of at least 5 GW of electrolyser capacity.
- 2030-2040: Expansion of national and cross-border infrastructure, increased production capacity, and broader market adoption.
- 2040-2050: Full-scale deployment, with hydrogen expected to supply up to 18% of industrial energy and 30% of energy for heavy transport.
Support for research and innovation projects
The strategy represents a major boost for ongoing research and innovation projects such as MOST-H2, which focuses on advancing hydrogen technologies in rail transport. Within MOST-H2, our partner Italferr is leading the techno-economic assessment of stationary MOF-based hydrogen storage as part of a complete hydrogen rail ecosystem. Importantly, the Italian government has selected the railway line used in the MOST-H2 case study as part of its strategic analysis.
The analysis is based on a real-world use case in Italy and will be extended to other European countries through a comparison of non-electrified railway networks. A multi-criteria evaluation approach will be used, considering not only technical and economic factors, but also safety, social acceptance, and interoperability.
Challenges and Outlook
While the strategy is ambitious, challenges remain – including high electricity costs, regulatory complexity, and infrastructure gaps. The government aims to address these through policy reforms, increased R&D funding, and streamlined permitting procedures.
Italy’s National Hydrogen Strategy not only reinforces its climate ambitions but also provides a solid foundation for cutting-edge projects like MOST-H2, helping to pave the way for a cleaner, more integrated European transport future.