by EH
Friuli Venezia Giulia is making a bold commitment to renewable hydrogen research, allocating €10 million in grants to create and modernize cutting-edge infrastructure. All project proposals submitted for the initiative will receive funding, with the top four projects fully financed and another partially supported, pending future resource allocations.
“This investment is a key step in achieving the region’s ecological transition and sustainable development goals,” said Alessia Rosolen, Regional Councillor for Labor, Training, Education, Research, Universities, and Family. She underscored the region’s focus on reducing emissions and diversifying energy supply through renewable sources.
The grants are part of a broader strategy to position the region at the forefront of Europe’s renewable energy landscape. Rosolen highlighted the local hydrogen ecosystem’s strength, noting the long-standing collaboration between scientific institutions and industries within the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley.
The projects selected for funding showcase a fusion of scientific innovation and regional cooperation.
Pioneering Projects
Ranked first is the Fuse-Open Infrastructure on Future Underground Hydrogen Storage project, led by Italy’s National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS) in collaboration with the Universities of Trieste and Udine. This initiative aims to identify and model underground hydrogen storage sites and natural deposits of “white” hydrogen.
Second on the list is I-CAMPUS-H2, an ambitious effort to establish a research platform within the Basovizza Campus, drawing on the expertise of institutions like the Elettra Synchrotron, Area Science Park laboratories, and the National Research Council (CNR). CNR is leading this initiative to strategically advance materials and processes for hydrogen use.
H2SmartLab, ranked third, focuses on building an advanced research infrastructure for the production, storage, and use of green hydrogen. Led by Area Science Park with support from SISSA (International School for Advanced Studies) and the University of Trieste, the project incorporates a “digital twin” management system for intelligent monitoring and optimization.
The E4H2: Efficiency for Hydrogen project, a collaboration between the Universities of Trieste and Udine, is ranked fourth. It plans to develop a network of four laboratories across the region to enhance energy efficiency in the green hydrogen supply chain.
Finally, IMPACT-H2 will focus on advanced materials and processes to drive the hydrogen sector’s energy transition. The project is led by the University of Udine, working closely with the University of Trieste.
A Model of Collaboration
A unique aspect of the funding program is the required establishment of advisory boards for each project, bringing together businesses and trade associations. “We are particularly pleased to see widespread involvement from the region’s entrepreneurial fabric, from large companies to micro-enterprises,” Rosolen noted.
Friuli Venezia Giulia’s strategic investments come at a critical moment as Europe races to transition to clean energy. By fostering collaboration between academic institutions, industry leaders, and regional authorities, the region is positioning itself as a hub for hydrogen innovation.
The success of these initiatives could ripple far beyond Italy, offering a blueprint for integrating renewable energy research with economic and environmental sustainability.
