by InTrieste
The Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Council has announced an additional €1.08 million in funding to support research infrastructure for renewable hydrogen. The decision, proposed by Regional Councilor Alessia Rosolen, increases the total funding for five projects to over €11 million.
The additional funds ensure full financing for the IMPACT-H2 initiative, a project focused on developing advanced materials and processes for the hydrogen supply chain. Led by the University of Udine in collaboration with the University of Trieste, IMPACT-H2 aims to create an experimental laboratory that will serve as a regional hub for research and innovation in hydrogen technologies.
“This funding reflects the importance of creating and modernizing research infrastructure in the hydrogen sector,” Rosolen said. “It supports the region’s goals of fostering innovation and advancing decarbonization.”
Funded Hydrogen Projects
IMPACT-H2, valued at €2.3 million, had received partial funding in December 2024. With the new allocation, the project is now fully covered. It will utilize expertise from researchers in chemistry, physics, and materials engineering at both universities to address hydrogen production, storage, and utilization challenges. The facilities will also offer access to local businesses and the region’s science and innovation network.
The funding increase also benefits four other projects:
- Fuse-Open Infrastructure on Future Underground Hydrogen Storage: This project, led by the National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (OGS), focuses on identifying and modeling potential underground hydrogen storage sites and natural hydrogen deposits, in collaboration with the universities of Trieste and Udine.
- I-CAMPUS-H2: This initiative aims to establish a platform for analytical characterization of materials and processes for hydrogen, integrating facilities at the Basovizza Campus, including Elettra Sincrotrone, Area Science Park, and the National Research Council (CNR), which leads the project.
- H2SmartLab: Proposed by Area Science Park in partnership with SISSA and the University of Trieste, H2SmartLab seeks to develop advanced infrastructure for green hydrogen production and storage, supported by a digital twin management system.
- E4H2 – Efficiency for Hydrogen: Led by the University of Trieste with support from the University of Udine, this project focuses on improving energy efficiency in the green hydrogen supply chain through distributed research infrastructure across four laboratories.
Supporting Regional Goals
The Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Council’s decision to increase funding reflects its commitment to advancing renewable hydrogen research and supporting projects that align with decarbonization goals. The IMPACT-H2 project, in particular, is expected to attract investment and foster collaboration between academic, industrial, and public sectors.
With this funding, Friuli Venezia Giulia positions itself as a key player in renewable hydrogen development, contributing to Europe’s broader energy transition efforts.
