Italy
Country: Italy
Document type: National Strategy
Title: National Hydrogen Strategy (Original language)
Released: November 2024
In the strategy, the following points were noted (based on Google translate):
- The update of the 2024 National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC), in line with the EU framework, has identified a minimum development trajectory for hydrogen. Overall, renewable hydrogen consumption by 2030 is expected to amount to approximately 0.25 Mt/year; it is estimated that at least 70% of this demand will be produced domestically (an electrical capacity of 3 GW of electrolyzers has been assumed for this purpose).
- By 2050, hydrogen penetration, in the high diffusion case, could potentially reach about 18% of final consumption in the (heavy to abate) industry sector and 30% of final consumption in the transport sector, requiring development of a transport and distribution infrastructure that connects large production centers with major consumption hubs. Hydrogen could also play a role in other previously less considered contexts, such as network balancing (P2G and P2P) and long-term storage.
- The strategy notes that infrastructure is key for energy exchange with other countries, to consolidate Italy’s role as a hydrogen import hub for Europe, with gas network infrastructures connected to North Africa and a set of ports (both on the Tyrrhenian and the Adriatic Seas) enabling the import of hydrogen and other energy carriers (such as ammonia, methanol).
- By 2050, a range of electrolyser capacity at 15-30 GW is presented, depending on the uptake scenario (for which, it is noted, it is necessary to ensure the simultaneous development of additional renewable energy plants at a ratio of 1 to 3). It is noted that an initial estimate of cumulative investments of between €8-16 billion would be required for the electrolyzer systems alone (excluding the contribution of other hydrogen production technologies, such as those employing Steam Methane Reforming with CCS and thermochemical processes from biomass, which are also noted in the strategy).
- By 2050, the identified scenarios present gross hydrogen consumption up to 11.93 Mtoe (~4.2 Mtpa hydrogen demand – figures in brackets not included in strategy, independently calculated) in the high diffusion scenario, 9.08 Mtoe (~3.2Mtpa hydrogen demand) in the intermediate scenario, and 6.39 Mtoe (~2.2 Mtpa hydrogen demand) in the base scenario.
Programs
In April 2023, the EC approved, under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 to support measures in sectors which are key to accelerate the green transition and reduce fuel dependencies) a €450 million Italian scheme to support investments in the integrated production of renewable hydrogen and renewable electricity in brownfield industrial areas to foster the transition to a net-zero economy. The public support would take the form of direct grants covering investment costs, with a maximum amount of aid per project of €20 million. Aid is to be provided by 31 December 2025.
In April 2023, media reporting noted that the Italian Government had allocated €300 million (sourced from the post-pandemic National Recovery and Resilience Plan) for a programme to replace diesel trains with hydrogen trains in six regions across the country, with €24 million allocated for new rolling stock and €276 million for the production, storage and supply of renewable hydrogen.
In October 2023, the EC approved, under the State Aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, a €100 million Italian scheme to support the production of electrolysers to foster a transition to a net-zero economy, in line with the Green Deal Industrial Plan. The aid will take the form of direct grants, with the main purpose being to build up the capacities for the production of strategic equipment necessary for the diversification of energy sources.
In January 2024, the EC approved, under the State Aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, a €550 million Italian scheme to support investments enabling the substitution of methane and other fossil fuels with renewable hydrogen, which can be combined with electrification or significant energy efficiency improvements in industrial processes. The aid will take the form of direct grants.
In March 2024, the EC approved, under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, a €1.1 billion Italian scheme to support investments for the production of equipment necessary to foster the transition towards a net-zero economy, including being open to companies producing electrolysers (amongst a range of other net-zero supporting technologies).
In May 2024, Germany, Italy and Austria signed a Declaration of Intent for the development of the SoutH2 Corridor. The SoutH2 Corridor is to facilitate hydrogen imports from North Africa through southern Italy and is then to be connected to hydrogen demand clusters in Italy, Austria and Germany. The Declaration announcement notes that the SoutH2 Corridor is one of the five large-scale pipelines for hydrogen imports that will facilitate the European import of renewable hydrogen by 2030. (Note: The SoutH2 Corridor has been chosen as a Project of Common Interest.)
In August 2024, media reports indicated that the Italian Government announced it would spend more than €994 million on subsidies towards hydrogen projects that had been included in the EU’s Hy2Infra Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) list announced in February 2024.
In January 2025, Italy, Germany, Austria, Algeria and Tunisia signed a joint declaration of intent to continue work on the development of the SoutH2 Corridor.
In February 2025, it was announced that the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy had awarded €317 million to Ansaldo Energia aimed at the construction of a new production line of Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) electrolysers. Ansaldo Energi was a successful recipient under the “IPCEI Hy2Tech” round announced in July 2022.
Reviewed: October 2025