Italy – The European Commission has approved public funding for two projects to develop green hydrogen by Italian multinational corporations Enel Green Power and Eni under IPCEI Hy2Use.
This project of common European interests, prepared and notified jointly by 13 EU Member States, will allocate up to €5.2 billion to support research and innovation, the first industrial application, and the construction of related infrastructure in the hydrogen value chain. South Italy Green Hydrogen, the joint venture formed by the two corporations to move forward with project development, will benefit from the funding.
One of the projects will be carried out at the Gela biorefinery in Sicily, where a 20 MW electrolyzer will be installed. The other will be near Eni’s refinery in Taranto, Apulia, and will include a 10 MW electrolyzer. PEM (polymer electrolyte membrane) technology will be used in both. The two companies have determined that green hydrogen, produced solely with renewable energy, is the best solution for driving the decarbonization of these two plants.
Future agreements may cover the implementation of these projects, which will be finalized in accordance with applicable regulations, including those governing transactions between related parties.
Developing hydrogen projects
Enel Group is also working on several other green hydrogen projects in Spain, Chile, and the United States. Eni, Italy’s largest hydrogen producer and consumer, will also open a hydrogen station in Mestre, Veneto, in June 2022. Other initiatives in Italy and abroad to decarbonize hard-to-abate industries and heavy transport are also being considered. By 2050, the goal is to produce 4 MTPA of low-carbon, renewable hydrogen.
