The role of Italy in the international economy of hydrogen: geo-economic and geopolitical implications

The role of hydrogen to achieve climate goals is emerging clearly. This molecule presents some favourable characteristics that allow to overcome some limitations of electrification, such as the possibility of seasonal storage, suitability for long-distance transportation and emissions reduction in hard-to-abate sectors such as the heavy industry. The creation of a new hydrogen market could lead to ground-breaking geo-economic and geopolitical consequences, creating new interdependence dynamics and leading to the decline of energy superpowers and the rise of new ones. This research project aimed at analysing these aspects, as well as the international political factors that can facilitate the creation of a hydrogen economy. The project focused on the consequences for Italy and on its role in this new scenario. It included two main research outcomes: a special in-depth report on “The Role of Italy in the International Hydrogen Economy” and a IAI paper on “The Geopolitics of Hydrogen: What’s in it for Italy?”. The research benefited from multi-stakeholder working groups./p>

Funding: Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation