H2Olona Hydrogen Valley inaugurated in Lombardy

The H2Olona Hydrogen Valley has been officially inaugurated in the Lombardy region, marking the first open-market hydrogen valley in the area. Located in the former Vita Mayer-Vimadi Cairate paper mill site between Cairate and Lonate Ceppino, the project transforms approximately 550,000 square meters of abandoned industrial land into a hub for green hydrogen production, renewable energy, and technological innovation.

Led by the company Expand, the project represents a significant industrial regeneration effort. The total investment is valued at 23 million euros, with 11.5 million euros provided by the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

The facility includes a 2-megawatt plant that uses water electrolysis to produce green hydrogen, powered by an approximately 4.5 MWp photovoltaic park. Once fully operational, the plant is expected to produce more than 100 tons of green hydrogen annually, aiming to create an industrial supply chain that integrates energy production with manufacturing, transport, and logistics to reduce emissions.