The European Commission has approved a 550 million euros Italian state aid scheme to support investments in the use of hydrogen in industrial processes, thus promoting the transition to a zero-emission economy, in line with the Green Deal.
The aid, provided in the form of direct subsidies, is aimed at companies that depend on fossil fuels as a source of energy or as raw material for production processes. Projects that can lead to a reduction of at least 40 per cent in greenhouse gas emissions from production processes, or a reduction of at least 20 per cent in energy consumption compared to today, will be eligible. To be eligible for aid, companies must abandon fossil fuels and replace them with renewable hydrogen. They can combine these investments with projects to electrify production processes or significantly improve their energy efficiency.