Italy advances hydrogen research and energy transition technologies

Italian research institutions ENEA, CNR, and RSE have presented the final results of the Hydrogen Operational Research Plan (POR H2). Launched two years ago with a 120 million euro investment through an agreement with the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, the initiative has established 150 activity lines, 75 collaborations with Italian universities, 85 funded doctoral scholarships, and 28 research contracts. The program focused on hydrogen production, storage, transport, fuel cells, and smart infrastructure.

In parallel, Sardegna Ricerche is launching four projects aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through advanced energy technology experimentation. These projects include a new experimental infrastructure for testing innovative electrolyzers up to 100 kW, a facility for green hydrogen purification for Power-to-X applications, a small-scale fuel cell experimental platform, and a Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) plant. Local companies are invited to participate in defining these technological solutions to facilitate the energy transition.