A detailed hydrogen roadmap in Italy with clearer objectives is expected to be published by authorities in the coming weeks, says a representative of the Italian hydrogen association H2IT.

Last year Italy released a preliminary hydrogen strategy to be implemented by 2050. A scale-up of green hydrogen projects, however, cannot happen without a clear legal framework. At present, the only existing national hydrogen regulations are the ones from the European Commission, which also need issue broader and more detailed rules.

“The Italian legal framework remains inadequate in terms of production, storage and transport despite the [fact that] country has made some improvement in defining rules for refuelling stations, particularly to prevent fires, in line with all other European countries," the representative warns.

The country also needs to “build the offer of hydrogen on one hand but also build up demand, preparing the industry to receive and produce hydrogen within a clear legal framework. The challenge now is to meet offer and demand bringing authorities to support projects," she continues.

H2IT expects increased demand from the Italian railway sector as projects of hydrogen trains are underway in the country.

Some countries in Europe are slightly more advanced compared to Italy in terms of green hydrogen development. Germany has a developed network of refuelling stations thanks to a government investment scheme as the country has invested more national funds than Italy in hydrogen while also participating in European projects. The target, however, is to create “a European hydrogen value chain instead of regional sectors with the aim to create synergies and achieve lower costs of green hydrogen," the representative adds.

According to a study published by Aurora Energy Research, Germany is the most attractive market for green hydrogen investment in Europe thanks to the many planned and ongoing electrolyser projects. Italy, Poland and the UK are also considered promising markets while France “currently offers the lowest wholesale power prices, and its grid carbon intensity is one of the lowest in Europe," the study says.

Green hydrogen projects throughout Europe are increasing. By 2040, 9 gigawatts of electrolysis capacity will be installed in Germany, 6 GW in the Netherlands, and 4 GW in the UK.

“Current global electrolyser capacity is just 0.2 GW, mainly in Europe, meaning that if planned projects deliver by 2040, capacity will grow by a factor of 1,000,” Aurora Energy adds.

H2IT has 70 members and covers the entire value chain from production to storage to transport and distribution. Amongst the members there are producers but also end-users - mainly in the industrial sector, Kallanish notes.