The Italian hydrogen supply chain is growing with great potential yet to be expressed thanks to medium-sized companies that are highly technological and active on the innovation side. This is according to research conducted by Intesa Sanpaolo's Research and Studies Department. In the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, 3.64 billion euros have been allocated to develop the hydrogen sector, but it is mainly private investment that is driving growth. 65 percent of companies ended 2022 with growth in hydrogen investments. Seventy percent of investments are financed through own funds, while 22 percent are covered by European, national or regional funds; in many cases, investments result in innovations and patents. In fact, over the past five years, more than one in three companies (36 percent) have obtained at least one patent or are in the process of doing so; this percentage rises to 85 percent among those involved in manufacturing. In terms of turnover, 2022 ended on a positive note for 71 percent of companies overall, and 58 percent increased turnover in their dedicated hydrogen business, with expectations of further growth in the near future. Among the sectors that will grow the most between now and 2030 is mobility (85 percent of responses), followed by hard-to-abate sectors (67 percent) and renewable electricity storage (55 percent).
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