(Finance) – The Italian supply chain of thehydrogen it is growing with great potential yet to be expressed thanks to highly technological and innovative SMEs. This is what emerges from a research carried out by the Studies and Research Department of Intesa Sanpaolo in collaboration with H2ITthe Italian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association.
They have been allocated in the PNRR €3.64 billion to develop the sector ofhydrogenbut they are above all the private investments to push growth: 65% of companies closed 2022 with an increase in investments in hydrogen; 70% of investments are financed through own funds, while 22% is covered by European, national or regional funds. Investments in many cases translate into innovations and patents.
In the last five years, in fact, more than one company out of three (36%) has obtained at least one patent or is about to do so; this percentage rises to 85% among those involved in production. More than half (56%) of the companies in the sample participated in European tenders, obtaining funding in 65% of cases (another 20% is awaiting the outcome). 51% participated in the tenders of PNRRwhile 33% are involved in the IPCEI initiative.
In terms of sales, 2022 closed overall with a positive sign for 71% of businesses and 58% increased their hydrogen business turnover, with expectations of further growth in the near future. For about half of the sample (45%), the involvement in the hydrogen market is not affected by the current context characterized by the energy crisis and 35% see new business opportunities in this situation and are therefore accelerating them investments.
Innovation comes from collaboration between businesses. For 64% the intercompany partnerships they are the best way to grow with a view to collaborative innovation, followed by those with universities (60%) and national/international working groups (49%). Among the sectors that will grow the most between now and 2030, mobility stands out (85% of the answers), followed by the hard-to-abate sectors (67%) and renewable electricity storage (55%).
Companies in the hydrogen supply chain suffer above all from the lack of a regulatory framework clear (78%), the uncertainty of a market demand not yet defined (64%) and everything that revolves around permissions (53%) and bureaucracy (51%). To overcome the critical issues, companies ask above all for the definition of national laws and regulations (58%), national strategic plans (55%) and more investments to stimulate demand (45%) and in infrastructure (42%).