Italy: “Hydrogen Valley” Born In Malpensa

A hydrogen valley will appear near the main airport of northern Italy, Malpensa.

The Hydrogen Valley Malpensa project was presented on September 18 and involves collaboration between the municipality of Busto Arsizio, RINA (a transnational corporation involved in inspection, certification, and engineering consultancy), SEA (the company that manages Milan’s Malpensa and Linate airports), and Confindustria Varese, aimed at introducing hydrogen fuel to the area.

“The goal,” says the SEA, “is to define, through operational applications, a hydrogen valley management model aimed at introducing hydrogen technology to decarbonize passenger and cargo transport, the production system, with particular attention to the prerequisites necessary for implementation vehicles using this energy carrier in the airport operating environment.”

Therefore, they will try to implement a number of advanced technologies to create an ecosystem that utilizes the entire hydrogen supply chain, from production to storage, transportation, and consumption. The project will involve a network of local companies that could further use this energy source.

One of the key points will be to examine cost optimization in the hydrogen value chain, one of the energy sources identified to achieve decarbonization. By 2027, areas of application of airport vehicles with a fuel-cell-based hybrid engine to power electric motors will be determined.

“Hydrogen Valley Malpensa is an advanced project that aims to cut annual carbon dioxide emissions in the Malpensa region by 4,400 tons, the equivalent of 1,500 cars,” commented Andrea Bombardi, RINA’s Executive Vice President for Carbon Reduction. “We believe this is an innovative project that can be replicated in other areas and airports. It is designed not only for airport logistics, but also to open up new customers by enhancing the synergy between the airport and the adjacent area.”

This is why Hydrogen Valley Malpensa aims to create a reference model for the use of hydrogen. This alternative energy source is much talked about and invested in all over the world, but it creates various problems, in particular, obtaining hydrogen itself in “pure” form and solving logistical problems.

“EU funding allows us to test the development of hydrogen at the airport,” concluded SEA CEO Armando Brunini. “SEA, in collaboration with selected partners, will play the role of mediator and provider for introducing new technologies. The main application area for this project is the automotive industry. But this is the first stage of developing the know-how and favorable conditions (technological, regulatory, managerial, logistical) for the use of hydrogen in aviation, in accordance with a systemic approach, the only one capable of promoting this innovation in the transport sector.”