Italy in the International Hydrogen Economy

After many false starts, hydrogen is gaining new traction as a prospective key contributor to deep decarbonisation. As an international trade in hydrogen and hydrogen products is expected in the long term, early movers have chances to strategically position themselves in international hydrogen value chains. This paper explores the potential for Italy to achieve centrality in an international hydrogen economy, identifies enabling frameworks and key challenges, and what policy actions are required to support a competitive positioning. Italy’s best assets are a large industrial base, renewable energy potential, infrastructure network and leadership in certain ancillary technologies. Enabling frameworks are emerging especially at the EU levels. Yet, to achieve leadership, it is necessary to develop hydrogen ambitions within the context of a broader plan of industrial transformation and not solely on transmission and connectivity potential.