On November 20, the partners of the H2CE – Hydrogen in Central Europe project gathered in Forlì for a visit to the laboratories of Fores Engineering, a leading company in the design of solutions for the production and use of green hydrogen. The event was attended by various experts, including Claudia Romano from the Emilia-Romagna Region, who presented a mapping of hydrogen initiatives in the region, an integral part of the 2030 Regional Energy Plan.

Hydrogen plays a crucial role in the decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors, such as high-temperature industrial processes and long-distance transport, where battery solutions are insufficient. In Emilia-Romagna, several initiatives, including collaborations with TPER and HERA-SNAM, are testing the integration of hydrogen into public transportation and logistics systems, particularly for long-distance transport, where green hydrogen offers practical and efficient solutions.

Marco Pellegrini from the University of Bologna delved into the central role of academic research in the development of green hydrogen, with a vision towards its full integration into regional and European energy systems.

Leila Shamekhi, Fabio Mazzoli, and Davide Fichera from Fores Engineering showcased progress in international projects, including innovations in green hydrogen production and distribution. A special focus was given to the CrossWind project, which explores the use of offshore wind energy to produce green hydrogen in the Netherlands. This is one of the first initiatives to produce hydrogen via electrolysis using marine wind energy, with the potential to be replicated in the Adriatic Sea through projects like the Adriatic Offshore Energy Hub off the coast of Ravenna.

On November 21, the H2CE partners reconvened in Bologna for a progress meeting focused on the development of tools to support energy and territorial planning. Key activities discussed included:

  • GIS mapping of energy consumption at the territorial level, useful for identifying strategic areas for hydrogen introduction.
  • The Cell Energy Model, a decision-making tool that supports regional energy policies by optimizing the use of green hydrogen.
  • The development of training and capacity-building content for local administrations, promoting the adoption of hydrogen technologies.

Green hydrogen is becoming increasingly relevant for logistics and transport, especially for sectors that are harder to decarbonize, such as heavy transport. According to a 2022 study published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, the use of hydrogen in long-haul transport could reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 80–90%, significantly contributing to achieving Europe’s climate goals. Additionally, green hydrogen production could create around 1.5 million jobs in Europe by 2030, generating a strong positive impact on the green economy.

H2CE, which also involves several Central European countries, aims to support authorities engaged in energy and territorial planning to integrate hydrogen into their strategies, thus contributing to the energy transition across Europe.

The meeting also highlighted the growing interest in hydrogen as a response to the challenges of the climate crisis and the ambitious goals of the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement.

ITL will continue to support Emilia-Romagna and Europe by promoting the integration of green hydrogen in the logistics and transport sectors, which are essential for achieving decarbonization targets.