Italy will be able to produce at home hydrogen electrolysers. The investments to be supported are high, but the European Commission has approved the support plan proposed byItaly for the promotion of the hydrogen supply chain with a loan of 100 million euros.
What are electrolysers?
They are sophisticated machines that they handle water and separate hydrogen from oxygen. They have many internal tanks where the hydrogen is housed, while the residual oxygen can go into the air. The electricity that makes the machines work is in turn produced from clean sources. It is, essentially, a production chain with no effects on the environment and capable of ensuring good economies of scale. It is clear that it depends on the size of the systems that will be installed and which the large manufacturing industry will have to equip itself with.
Electrolysis thus organized will give a great contribution to the development of green hydrogen for which the EU has prepared a specific plan and even a Bank. There are still few electrolysers in operation and the production of green hydrogen in Italy with renewable electricity is less than 1% of the total. We need to run to reach the sustainability goals for 2030. It must also be said that the major Electrolyzer manufacturers are Chinese which control approximately 50% of the world market.
All sectors can access the economic contribution
The European Commission in granting the green light to Italy and the 100 million loan he avoided the rstate aid regime. The decision was made within the transition framework for the national economies in force since last March. The purpose of this “franchise” is to support measures in key sectors to reduce dependence on or imports of solid fuels. A synthesis between market and environmental needs, although in the meantime the demand for gas has also grown in Italy.
According to the Foreign Ministry, “the European measure will be open to all sectors, with the exception of financial institutions.” The aid will incentivize the production of equipment needed for the transition to a zero-emission economy and will granted by 31 December 2025.
The context in which Italy must insert itself, without local pretensions, is the REPowerEU associated with PNRR investments. Building machines at home will open up competition with the Made in China industry and, to a lesser extent, with the American one. But we must not rule out that Made in Italy will win this match too. Of course, the players count.
