Industrial gas provider Sapio Group has started construction on Italy’s first 500-bar renewable hydrogen facility at Porto Marghera. The location near Venice is emerging as part of Italy’s “Hydrogen Valley”, so-called for its role in a national strategy to establish geographical areas within the country focused on hydrogen production, storage, distribution, and end-use.

In 2020, Italy adopted a comprehensive plan to leverage hydrogen as a key enabler of decarbonisation and energy security, aligned with the European Green Deal and long-term climate goals. The Sapio Group’s Porto Marghera is backed by €17 million in public financing through Italy’s PNRR Hydrogen Valleys in Brownfield Areas call.

The project is led by Sapio and its solar partner ECO+ECO, part of the Veritas Group, which is headquartered in Italy’s Veneto province.

Sapio will invest €40 million between 2024 and 2026 to redevelop the site and position it as a strategic energy hub to stimulate employment, private investment, and sustainable industrial activities.

The project includes a 5 MW electrolyzer capable of producing 500 tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually. ECO+ECO’s 2 MW solar plant will be directly connected to the electrolyser for clean power.

What is ultimately envisaged is a high-pressure logistics hub using 500-bar trailers to increase hydrogen payloads and cut transport emissions and costs. Trailers currently in use have only a 200-bar capacity.

The completion date for the project is expected to be June 30 2026.