Italy’s Ferrovienord, in collaboration with FNM group, says the H2iseO hydrogen valley project in Iseo, in the Valcamonica area, northern Italy is at an advanced stage of development.

The company has awarded the design, construction and maintenance works for the future hydrogen production plants and relative refuelling infrastructure in Brescia, Iseo and Edolo, an FNM spokesperson tells Kallanish.

The H2iseO hydrogen valley project will see 14 hydrogen trains and 40 buses run along the non-electrified Brescia-Iseo-Edolo line.

Alstom’s first Coradia Stream hydrogen locomotive will be delivered in February 2024 for test drives. The project includes the construction of three plants for the production, storage and distribution of renewable hydrogen in Brescia, Iseo and Edolo (see Kallanish 6 October). Project coordinator FNM, in collaboration with state railway operators Trenord and Ferrovienord, completed the feasibility study for the H2iseO hydrogen valley in 2021.

The hydrogen plant in Iseo, due to start in 2025, is based on steam reforming technology using bio-methane and carbon capture. The two hydrogen plants in Brescia and Edolo, respectively at the north and south of the line, will be powered by 100% renewable energy and produce green hydrogen. These two plants will become operative in 2026, the FNM source comments.

The hydrogen produced will initially serve Coradia Stream trains on the Brescia-Iseo-Edolo line, but will later be extended to public transport and buses. The first such buses will begin to circulate in 2025.

The conception, construction and maintenance of the hydrogen plant in Iseo has been awarded to engineering firms RTI Siram, F.lli Trentini and Hysytech for a total investment of over €18 million ($19m), while the refuelling station in Iseo was awarded to Siram SpA. The hydrogen plant and refuelling station in Brescia Borgo San Giovanni was awarded to RTI Renova Red for a contract value of over €29m, while the plant and refuelling station in Edolo was awarded to RTI Consorzio Innova - btp infrastrutture SpA for over €29m.

FNM and Alstom signed an agreement in November 2020 for the supply of six hydrogen fuel cell trains, with an option for eight more, for an investment of €160m.