The European Commission said Until 2040, €1.2 trillion will be needed for the EU’s electricity grids, including €240 billion for hydrogen networks, as the country launched its European Grids Package. The package outlines plans to strengthen cross-border infrastructure planning, accelerate permitting, improve cost and benefit sharing, and increase resilience and security. In addition, the commission announced streamlined approval for 100 hydrogen and electrolysis projects across Europe. In addition, the commission also approved a €1.5 billion Italian state aid scheme to expand clean technology production capacity, including support for decarbonization of industry through electrification, energy efficiency and renewable or electricity-based hydrogen. “This can be done through electrification, energy efficiency and the transition to the use of renewable and electricity-based hydrogen, which meets certain conditions, with extensive opportunities to support the decarbonization of industrial processes by switching to hydrogen-derived fuels.” said the European executive body.
The Italian region of Umbria has published a public notice for applications under the “Progetto Bandiera”, a strategic initiative to promote the production of green hydrogen and biohydrogen in brownfield industrial areas. The effort follows new national guidelines for permitting co-located PV and electrolyzers.
Fraunhofer ISE and Italy’s Green Energy Storage (GES) have started working together on the optimization of advanced membranes, part of the hydrogen battery for long-term electricity storage that GES is developing. “The product, the prototype of which will be officially unveiled in January 2026, will provide economical long-term electricity storage and scalable sizes from a few kilowatts to tens of megawatts,” GES said in an emailed press release.
Mitsubishi heavy industry has produced 99% pure hydrogen by cracking ammonia using steam as a heating source. “Pilot-scale production of hydrogen using steam heating was carried out at the company’s pilot plant at the Nagasaki District Research & Innovation Center, which was a world first,” said the Japanese company. MHI’s steam heating system operates at lower reaction temperatures, which do not use the heat of the burner combustion, and reduces operating costs. “Because no incinerator is required, the system also offers excellent properties, such as the potential for miniaturization.”
CPC Corp. has collaborated with Taiwan’s Linde LienHwa (LLH) to launch LLH’s Tree Valley Demonstration Hydrogen Refueling Station in Tainan and CPC’s Nanzih Hydrogen Refueling Station in Kaohsiung. “Located at LLH’s hydrogen production plant in Tainan, the demonstration station is designed as a platform that connects government, industry and academia to jointly promote hydrogen applications. Meanwhile, CPC’s Nanzih station plays a critical role in enabling low-carbon hydrogen mobility in Taiwan, marking a new chapter on Taiwan’s path to net-zero emissions,” Linde said in an emailed press release.
Kyocera has entered into a strategic partnership with Utility Global to scale up production of the company’s proprietary electrochemical cells. The partnership includes high-volume production lines, joint work in advanced materials engineering and automation. “Under the partnership, Utility’s proprietary ceramic and metal electrochemical cell technology will be combined with Kyocera’s world-class advanced materials capabilities and diversified global manufacturing footprint. Together, the companies will expand cell manufacturing capacity, enable efficiencies and accelerate time to market for H2Gen systems,” said Houston-based Utility Global.
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) said Uruguay has launched Kahirós, the country’s first integrated green hydrogen project, supported by a public-private partnership combining solar energy, hydrogen production and electric transport. “With an initial investment, including a $20 million green loan from the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC), Kahirós will power a fleet of trucks designed to transport timber to Montes del Plata (a Uruguayan forestry company),” said UNIDO. The project, which has already completed the installation of solar panels, is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2026.
Hydrogenera has collaborated with Volkswagen Poznań to implement a hydrogen-oxygen system at their Wrzesnia plant. The system has an electrolyser with a power of up to 90 kW. “Our solution includes a specialized hydrogen-oxygen system designed to function as a non-intrusive ‘add-on’ to the facility’s existing equipment. This ensures that the upgrade will not cause interference with currently operating installations, automation or safety systems.” said Hydrogenera, adding that hydrogen is mixed with natural gas directly before the burner, while oxygen is introduced into the air flow directed to the combustion chamber.
