Hydrogen Hub Trieste: Groundbreaking for the Renewable Hydrogen Centre

A Forward-Looking Project

Funded with €15.8 million from Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and €1.5 million from the Horizon EU programme – for a total investment of over €20 million – the project includes the construction of a 5 MW electrolysis plant and a 4.8 MW photovoltaic park.

The electrolysis plant will be built next to Trieste’s waste-to-energy plant, allowing for industrial symbiosis by recovering wastewater from the waste-to-energy process and repurposing it as a valuable resource for hydrogen production. The solar park will be built on another disused site, adding value to the area and contributing to urban regeneration.

Expected output is approximately 370 tonnes of hydrogen per year, destined for decarbonising transport and industry. Covering the entire value chain – production, storage, and distribution – the project aims to decarbonise emission-intensive sectors and create a local market for renewable hydrogen. In line with PNRR deadlines, the plant is scheduled to go into operation in 2026.

Collaboration and Innovation

The Hydrogen Hub Trieste is a flagship example of public–private collaboration. Born from an integrated and multidisciplinary approach, the project combines the redevelopment of disused areas, circular economy principles, and the technical-scientific know-how of universities, research bodies, and local companies.

It is also part of the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley – Europe’s first cross-border agreement on hydrogen, involving the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Slovenia, and Croatia – which brings together 37 organisations and 17 pilot projects across three countries. The NAVH aims to produce around 5,000 tonnes of hydrogen annually, transforming the Northern Adriatic area into an innovation laboratory, accelerating decarbonisation, and strengthening its role as a strategic European hub for the energy transition.

“From the very beginning, the Region has strongly believed in this project,” said Sergio Emidio Bini, Regional Councillor for Economic Development and Tourism, “with the strategic goal of transforming a decommissioned industrial site into an advanced hub for renewable hydrogen production. Multiple regional departments have been involved in the administrative process, demonstrating that it is possible to implement a careful, collaborative, and transparent governance model. The challenging deadlines of PNRR funding require public administrations to act swiftly to avoid wasting resources and opportunities. The fact that this project is fully on schedule today is thanks to a virtuous public–private partnership.”

“After successfully reclaiming a polluted area over the years, we can now focus on producing clean energy,” said Roberto Dipiazza, Mayor of Trieste. “When we work as a system, when the public sector joins forces with the private sector in the collective interest, results follow. This project represents an important starting point for a new energy ecosystem based on the sustainability of green hydrogen produced from renewable sources. The fact that this hub is being built in our city is further evidence of Trieste’s growth and its key role in Europe’s energy landscape.”

“With the Hydrogen Hub Trieste, we are not simply building a hydrogen production plant but helping create a true local ecosystem capable of accelerating the energy transition and decarbonising key sectors such as transport and industry,” said Carlo Andriolo, CEO of AcegasApsAmga. “The laying of this first stone carries strong symbolic value, as it reflects the region’s shared vision for sustainable development.”