The National Hydrogen Strategy intends to present the high-level vision of the Italian government on the role that hydrogen can occupy in the national decarbonization process. Hydrogen holds a unique position to contribute to the realization of the national environmental objectives and to ensure a safer and more reliable production of energy, especially that produced from renewable energy sources. In particular, this strategy considers that hydrogen can play a double role for Italy: in the long term, up to 2050, it can support, together with other low carbon emissions technologies, the decarbonization effort, especially in sectors like the energy-intensive production or aviation; in the short term, up to 2030, hydrogen will gradually become competitive in selected applications (such as chemistry, mobility, oil refining, transport, industry), allowing the development of a national hydrogen ecosystem, necessary to fully exploit the potential of hydrogen in the long period. The demand for hydrogen will probably focus on certain areas, thus allowing the birth of the so-called "hydrogen valleys". In order to start the low carbon emissions hydrogen economy in Italy, it will be necessary up to 10 billion euros investments between 2020 and 2030 (plus the investments for the diffusion of renewables). Up to half of these investments could come from ad hoc resources and funds. Other resources have been made available by the EU after the COVID-19 pandemic to support the economic recovery of Member States. Additional resources may be granted by the Innovation Fund and the Operational National Plan (PON) 2021-2027. Beyond the financial resources, the text highlights that it is also essential to define the national policies needed to ensure the development of the hydrogen economy. While the potential priority areas are outlined in this document, it will be necessary to develop a national regulatory framework for the use of hydrogen along the entire value chain, with a particular attention to safety and related responsibilities. As a result of such significant investments and efforts, concrete environmental and economic impacts are expected (emissions reduction, growth of involved industries with a positive impact on the supply chain, gross domestic product increase, increase in employment etc.).
Italy · 2020-11-01