What happened to the (large amount of) money for hydrogen?

What happened to the money for hydrogen? In the name of “technological neutrality,” this government has allocated hundreds of millions. It’s time to do some accounting, starting from the north.

The money for hydrogen? Cars aren’t selling; are the filling stations being built?

In 2024, the Ministry of Transport allocated 103.5 million euros, funded through PNRR, to support the construction of 36 new hydrogen refueling stations. This was only part of the 230 million euros planned under the initiative to develop a national network. By 2026, the total number of stations across the peninsula was expected to rise to 38. The 36 new stations would add to the existing 2 in Bolzano and Mestre by that year. They were located with the following partners: Autostrada del Brennero (4 projects), Milano Serravalle (3), Snam 4 Mobility (8), Eni (3), Sapio (2), Green Factory (1), Sasa (2), Edison (3), Q8 Petroleum (3), Alperia Greenpower (1), Gemmo — Simplifhy SB (1), Dilella Invest (1), Beyfin (1), TecaGas (1), Sol (1), Italgas. With only a few weeks left in 2026, it’s time to assess the progress of those projects. After all, as shown in the table, no hydrogen cars are being sold at this point.

above. Two were registered throughout the year, one Hyundai and one Toyota.

Pizzuto comes to our aid to start the investigation

To understand the situation, we can start with one of the oldest stations, Bolzano, one of the very first. An expert in sustainable mobility like Gianfranco Pizzuto, who lives in the area, provided an assessment on LinkedIn. He recalls when “in a private room at a hotel in Bolzano I met with the highest political officials of the Province. I explicitly warned them against what I considered a technological and economic gamble: focusing almost exclusively on hydrogen for public investments in alternative transportation. I recommended giving serious consideration to battery-electric solutions as well. I wasn’t listened to and was never consulted again.” So how is Brunico’s flagship station doing? “69 refueling events from January to August 2026, 0.14% of the theoretical capacity! An infrastructure project costing 12.6 million euros! A complete failure,” he said.

Iega Pizzuto.

The money for hydrogen? Let’s go check out the other stations

"It’s not a matter of personal revenge, but those who still insist on hydrogen mobility today are either ignorant or malicious," accuses Pizzuto.

"It's a matter of responsibility in using public resources and admitting that the wrong technology was chosen. In 2008 I proposed an alternative. I wasn't listened to. The fact that evidence now proves me right is a meager consolation." At this point, we would like to know what happened to the stations that benefited from PNRR funds instead. We don't want to accuse anyone—let's be clear, everyone's good faith must be respected. But it's also fair to try to understand what return is being generated from this significant investment in sustainable mobility. And how, if necessary, plans are to correct the course. Those who have information to share, perhaps because the planned stations are in their area, can help us by writing below or at info@vaielettrico.it.

– Read also / Meanwhile, electric vehicles...A new car is an EV

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