La European Commission gave the green light to the infrastructure project forHydrogen Valley in Puglia, carried on by Snam, including it in the list of IPCEI (Important Projects of Common European Interest) on hydrogen approved on 15 February within the Hy2Infra wave. It means that the project has been recognized as an initiative of great importance for the common European interest. Snam announced this, explaining that this third Ipcei wave, which comes after those Hy2Tech, dedicated to the development of hydrogen technologies for end users, e Hy2Use, focused on hydrogen applications in the industrial sector, involves 32 companies in 33 projects in Europe. The framework was designed and notified jointly by seven Member States: France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Slovakia. Under this programme, Member States will provide up to 6,9 billion euros in public funding, which should in turn stimulate private investments of a further 5,4 billion dedicated to innovative projects in strategic sectors for European industry.
Hydrogen Valley in Puglia
Snam has designed an infrastructure which, together with other industrial operators, will contribute to the development of the hydrogen supply chain in Puglia. The project, which will enter the operational phase in 2028, will require investments di about 100 million euro. These funds will be allocated to the repurposing of existing pipelines for a total length of 85 km and the installation of new pipelines for a further 110 km.
Looking at the IPCEI Hy2Infra as a whole, it is expected to support at a European level the diffusion of electrolysers for 3,2 GW, the construction and reconversion of pipelines for the transport and distribution of hydrogen over approximately 2.700 km, the development of storage facilities for at least 370 GWh of hydrogen and the construction of terminals and port infrastructure for liquid organic hydrogen carriers, handling a total of 6.000 tonnes of hydrogen per year.
The Hydrogen Valley in Puglia is configured as a point of reference for the development ofgreen hydrogen and for the creation of an infrastructure that will contribute to reduce the environmental impact and to create new economic opportunities in the region and beyond.
