Green hydrogen: Italy leads the energy transition
A strategic opportunity to decarbonise industry and transport, leveraging Made in Italy know-how and innovation
Green hydrogen is emerging as one of the pillars of the global energy transition. Produced through electrolysis powered by renewable sources, it represents a versatile, storable and transportable energy carrier capable of decarbonising hard-to-abate industrial sectors such as steel, chemicals and heavy transport. For Italy, this resource is not only an opportunity to reduce emissions, but also a lever for industrial and technological development, positioning the country as a European hub for the production, distribution and innovation of clean energy technologies.
Strategic imports: a decisive role for 2050
According to the National Hydrogen Strategy presented by MASE, Italy outlines two main scenarios for 2050: one dominated by domestic production, in which 70% of demand would be met internally and 30% through imports; another centred on imports, where only 20% of demand would be supplied domestically while 80% would come from abroad.
These scenarios imply significant investments in infrastructure and technology. In the import-driven scenario, domestic production and electrolyser deployment would require between EUR 2 and 5 billion, while the renewable capacity needed to support green electrolysis could reach EUR 10–20 billion. In a scenario dominated by domestic production, investments would rise to EUR 8–16 billion for electrolysers and EUR 35–70 billion for renewable capacity—equivalent to 45–90 GW of dedicated RES installations.
These figures reflect Italy’s ambition to develop a flexible and resilient energy infrastructure capable of combining domestic production and imports, positioning the country as a Mediterranean hydrogen hub with strategic connections to North Africa and European markets.
Investment and support measures
Italy is supporting the development of the hydrogen value chain through a comprehensive portfolio of measures, some already implemented and others in progress. Among these, the NRRP (PNRR) plays a fundamental role, with initiatives such as: Hydrogen Valleys, integrated local ecosystems covering the entire value chain—from production to storage and end uses—to accelerate decarbonisation; deploying hydrogen in rail and road transport; supporting electrolyser manufacturing and R&D in hard-to-abate sectors.
The objective is to build a market capable of absorbing rapidly increasing demand—both domestic and international—while supporting the competitiveness of Italian companies and safeguarding the value of Made in Italy.
Research and innovation
The 2024 National Hydrogen Strategy places research and innovation at the heart of developing the Italian hydrogen value chain. Italy aims to advance cutting-edge technologies capable of improving efficiency, reducing costs and increasing system reliability, durability and safety.
This is not merely about developing individual devices, but about constructing a fully integrated energy ecosystem, where green hydrogen production interacts with renewable energy sources and finds real applications in energy-intensive industrial sectors.
Focus is also placed on the transition towards a circular economy and on strengthening the resilience of the national energy system, through decentralised models based on green hydrogen. At the same time, the Strategy promotes collaboration between research and industry, advancing the development of high-efficiency, sustainable electrolysers and fuel cells and laying the foundations for Italian technological leadership in Europe and globally.
In doing so, Italy not only strengthens its energy production capabilities, but also consolidates scientific, industrial and regulatory expertise that will be essential for the nation’s competitive positioning in the global clean-energy market.
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Sources:
MASE – National Hydrogen Strategy 2024
PV Magazine – “MASE presents the National Hydrogen Strategy: imports to cover between 30% and 80% of demand by 2050”