During their partnership meeting in Mestre, 20 H2CE representatives visited Sapio Group’s emerging Green Hydrogen Hub in the Porto Marghera industrial area of Venice.
Experts from Sapio presented the planned production facility and the wider Hydrogen Valley initiative developed with the North Adriatic Sea Port Authority and Hydrogen Park. The initiative aimed to transform the port ecosystem into a clean-energy hub centred on hydrogen.
The planned hydrogen facility
Sapio received funding from Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan for a renewable hydrogen production plant with a capacity of 5 MW. A dedicated photovoltaic system was planned to supply the facility, with hydrogen production expected to begin in 2026.
Lessons for regional hydrogen planning
The study visit highlighted several factors relevant to other hydrogen-ready regions:
- Existing sites could reduce implementation barriers. The project reused a decommissioned industrial area already connected to the electricity grid.
- Production needed to be linked to demand. The planned hydrogen supply targeted nearby industrial users.
- Funding required credible projects. Access to public support depended on meeting effectiveness and sustainability requirements.
- Regional cooperation was essential. Port authorities, industry and technology providers contributed different capabilities.
- Knowledge exchange accelerated learning. Practical examples helped H2CE partners assess which approaches could be adapted to their own regions.
The visit provided the partnership with a concrete example of how hydrogen production, renewable electricity, industrial demand and existing infrastructure could be brought together within a regional development strategy.