Can I fill up on hydrogen? The revolution starts on the Milan ring road

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Few believed in it. Some thought it was a way to kick the ball into the stands in the remote prospect of reaching zero emissions. But now, while at a European level the Green Deal seems to be on the brink of political collapse (the economic cost is too high), something is happening. Today, in fact, mobility powered by hydrogen engines is a reality, especially in the world of logistics and heavy vehicles . The news from Lombardy is that in recent days the first hydrogen refueling station in Lombardy was presented in Carugate, along the eastern ring road of Milan, the first step towards the creation of a national network dedicated to hydrogen road mobility. Because hydrogen engines are considered more suitable for heavy vehicles, such as trucks and buses, due to their ability to offer greater autonomy and rapid refueling times, comparable to those of traditional vehicles, compared to battery-powered electric vehicles. Furthermore, hydrogen can be stored in larger capacity tanks, allowing for greater distances on a single fill, a crucial aspect for vehicles that have to travel long distances . Good thing for a sector, logistics, which has found its habitat in Lombardy. And for Lombardy, containing harmful emissions, particularly in the distribution of goods - a sector in strong growth - is strategic. The world of industry is working at full speed to put reliable vehicles on the market and a distribution network that is expanding.

In Europe, the number of refueling stations will soon reach 450. Germany and France are leading the transition. In the last two years, the total number of hydrogen-powered vehicles in circulation in Europe has reached 6,000. In Italy, according to projections by H2IT (Italian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association), hydrogen will play an increasingly important role in sustainable mobility. By 2050, it is estimated that over 20,000 hydrogen-powered buses and approximately 50,000 trucks will be circulating on Italian roads . This confirms how strategic this technology is for reducing emissions and polluting less.

Alberto Dossi, president of H2IT, recalled that "with hydrogen, starting from 2022, we have made enormous progress. Today we are talking about projects in the implementation phase. Hydrogen is a long and complicated supply chain but the trend is always positive, hydrogen will be one of the fuels that will allow us to reach net zero by 2050".

Lombardy is developing the hydrogen industry, focusing on the creation of an integrated supply chain involving companies, research institutes and regional institutions. H2Energy, based in the province of Cremona, has already started up the first Italian 1 MW green hydrogen plant and is the leader in the region. Another concrete example is the agreement between Tenaris, Snam and Edison for the production of green hydrogen in the Dalmine steelworks (Bergamo) .

There are many companies in the automotive sector that are putting hydrogen commercial vehicles on the market. Stellantis has moved forward with a series of investments in hydrogen fuel cells and already has a large range of vehicles. Unfortunately, production is not in Italy, for example the SymphonHy fuel cell giga-factory is in France, in a joint venture “Symbio” between Forvia, Michelin and Stellantis. The Stellantis plant in Hordain (France) has long since started mass production of the Peugeot Expert, Citroën Jumpy and Opel Vivaro light commercial vehicles in the hydrogen version . Toyota has also developed the third generation of its fuel cells, hydrogen-powered fuel cells. These are just a few examples. Iveco, Volvo and Daimler Truck are working to promote the construction of eight hydrogen refueling stations for heavy vehicles as part of the Connecting Europe Facility program, a project financed by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership program, with 30 million euros.

Lombardy is also trying to run, thanks to Fnm, the regional mobility holding, wanted by Bobo Maroni and now led by Andrea Gibelli . The first project launched, “H2iseO Hydrogen Valley”, represents a unique example in the country and is based on a sustainable mobility system in Val Camonica, along the non-electrified Brescia-Iseo-Edolo railway line, thanks to hydrogen-powered trains. There will be 14 new hydrogen trains replacing the entire diesel fleet currently in circulation. The project involves the construction of three plants for the production, storage and distribution of renewable hydrogen without CO2 emissions (in Iseo using biomethane Steam Reforming technology, with renewable electricity and CO2 capture; in Brescia and Edolo using electrolysis technology starting from electricity from a renewable source). There will also be a mobile refueling plant in Rovato.

And here we are at the new refueling point that debuts in Carugate. The plant built is the first of five interventions and will be able to refuel both light and heavy vehicles. The project is part of the broader context of European policies for decarbonisation and the transition to climate neutrality and represents a significant contribution towards an increasingly innovative, efficient and low-emission transport system. "With the opening of the hydrogen station in Carugate Est, located in a strategic area for transport and logistics - explains the president of Mise Elio Catania - the transit of hydrogen vehicles along the Europe-Genoa axis is encouraged, supporting logistics towards Switzerland and Germany". The entire project involves a total investment of 55.4 million euros, financed by national and European funds allocated by the Pnrr and the European Union, as part of the Cef - Transport Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility programme aimed at the decarbonisation of transport along the Trans-European Transport Network. It is essential to accelerate the development of infrastructure for the use of hydrogen as a fuel along the main road corridors of northern Italy. “We are committed to making the territory increasingly sustainable, through projects that generate value for the environment and communities, also at a national and European level”, adds the CEO of Mise, Ivo Roberto Cassetta .

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