No hydrogen refuellers, thanks: some are giving up millions from the PNRR
No to hydrogen refueling stations: some are giving up on the millions in PNRR funds already allocated. And they’re not building the refueling stations that were planned.
No to hydrogen refueling stations: Keropetrol gives up
It seems that ultimately, gas stations will be built where investment and management are handled by publicly owned companies. Private parties have backed out, giving up significant contributions that could have covered part of the investment. Take the case of Sapio-Keropetrol, two Lombardy-based companies that jointly secured funding to build two gas stations. One was planned in Mantua, the other in Vicolungo (Novara). When we asked about the progress of the projects, the brief reply was: “We gave up on the grant and thus on the project.” Note that this wasn’t a small amount. In 2024, the Ministry of Transport allocated 103.5 million euros, obtained through PNRR, to finance 36 new gas stations. That’s an average of 2.877 million euros per station—a substantial contribution. But without potential customers to serve it.
…Report from Mestre of an unused Eni station
Publicly owned companies, on the other hand, approach things from different perspectives. Some actions have been taken, but the results are far from impressive. A reader named Giorgio wrote to us from Mestre: “Here, Eni installed a hydrogen station inside a gas pump on the lake shore. No one has refueled it for years. Then, using funds from PNRR, ACTV purchased buses powered by hydrogen cells for public transportation. I should mention that this is the city where an electric bus crashed from an overpass, killing dozens of people. I wonder what would have happened if a hydrogen-powered bus had fallen from that overpass. They still haven’t gone into service, as it seems the refueling station is too slow and far from the bus depot to ensure timely refueling.” For context: in the aforementioned tender, Eni secured funding for 3 refueling stations: San Donato, Taranto, and Me.
More.
The Brennero Motorway Believes in It, with 4 Hydrogen Refueling Stations
The A22 Brennero Motorway, managed by local authorities along its route, was the one that took action with considerable determination. The four H2 stations have been planned at the Sadobre Autoport in Vipiteno, the Paganella East and West service areas, and the CSA in Verona Nord. “For now, these are only distribution facilities that will be supplied with hydrogen from southern Bolzano,” reads the A22 website. It should be noted that this is the motorway that was among the first to embrace electric vehicles with a widespread charging network. It now also believes in hydrogen: “As the number of hydrogen-powered vehicles on the road increases, this plan will be gradually implemented, along with additional production and distribution facilities in Sadobre, Nogaredo, Verona, and Campogalliano.” Yes, but first an assessment of this initial phase is needed, along with an understanding of how well these first distribution stations are performing.
i.Previous Article
US Airbase Closed to BYDs: Data Security at Stake
Next Article
ErreDue: How to Produce Green Hydrogen and Oxygen in One Container