Lamezia Terme pioneer of green energy: the first ‘Hydrogen Valley’ in southern Italy is born, an innovative project for sustainability and industrial development
LAMEZIA TERME (CZ), 17 JAN 2024 – Southern Italy will soon welcome its first “Hydrogen Valley” with the approved project for the creation of an innovative plant in the heart of the region. This initiative, unique in its kind for Calabria, is part of the 28 sites selected by the Italian government in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) to develop the hydrogen supply chain in the South.
The project, known as ‘Hydrogen Valley Lamezia Terme’, will take shape in the disused industrial area of the former Sir, a symbol of untapped potential to date. Proposed by Teca Gas Srl and engineered by Techfem, based in the Marche region but with a consolidated presence also in Calabria, the plant represents a bastion of innovation in the renewable energy sector.
The Lamezia infrastructure will host a plant capable of producing up to 2 megawatts of hydrogen, with areas dedicated to storage and compression up to 220 barg. Powered by a 461 kW photovoltaic park, the plant will also include a loading bay for filling the cylinder wagons intended for the transport of hydrogen.
For Teca Gas, already active in the LPG sector, this expansion represents an ambitious step forward to promote the local production and use of hydrogen in key sectors such as industry and transport. The “Hydrogen Valley” model, already successfully adopted in several European countries, aims to create synergies between the production and local consumption of sustainable energy.
“Federico Ferrini, CEO of Techfem, underlined the importance of this initiative for the ecological transition and sustainable development of the region, positioning Calabria as a pioneer in renewable energy and innovative energy solutions”, while Pasquale Rocca of Teca Gas emphasized the historical significance of the project for the local area.
The plant is expected to come into operation by 30 June 2026 and represents one of the central projects of Techfem’s 2024-2026 Industrial Plan, with an expansion plan that involves increasing employment by another 50 people exclusively in the Lamezia headquarters Spa.
Funded under the PNRR, the project falls within Mission 2 ‘Green revolution and ecological transition’, Component 2 ‘Renewable energy, hydrogen, network and sustainable mobility’, investment 3.1 ‘Production in brownfield sites’. This financial support is essential to ensure the realization of projects and overcome the challenges arising from regulatory uncertainty, a significant obstacle for Italian companies seeking to obtain the necessary authorizations.
Despite the challenges, the ‘Hydrogen Valley Lamezia Terme’ project stands out as a beacon of hope for a greener and more sustainable future, marking a decisive step towards energy independence and the reduction of emissions into the environment.
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