Gas pipeline operator Snam, has initiated establishment of Italy’s first national research centre for hydrogen related technologies. The Hydrogen Innovation Centre will be based at the University of Modena with sister research campuses in Milan and Rome. In time, similar hydrogen innovation centres could be set up elsewhere in Italy to encourage start-ups.

These research centres aim to build a strategic alliance between businesses, researchers innovators and potential customers of hydrogen. In essence, they will bring together various businesses including transport, distribution, storage and customers with researchers and innovators throughout Italy.

The research centres will initially focus on industrial applications of hydrogen such as in the production of green steel, glass making and food processing, as well as the use of hydrogen by the transport sector including cars, trucking, locomotives, aviation and shipping. In fact, this dovetails with the European Union’s efforts to establish a European market for hydrogen and to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Cosma Panzacchi, EVP Hydrogen of Snam states the aim is to “ consolidate the Italian hydrogen value chain and encourage the creation of new companies and projects,…..to propose the first projects to the market and to extend the partnership network abroad within the next two years".