Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. announced that its subsidiary NextChem has been assigned a €194-MM grant for the development of a waste-to-H₂ plant as part of the IPCEI Hy2Use EU project. The project sets up the Hydrogen Valley in Rome, the first industrial-scale technological hub for the development of the national supply chain for the production, transport, storage and use of H₂ for the decarbonization of industrial processes and for sustainable mobility.

The grant will be disbursed during the construction phases of the plant. The next steps concern the start of the project activities and all the necessary permits, to ensure the plant start-up in the first half of 2027, in compliance with the funding. In the initial phase a production of 1,500 tpy of H₂ and 55,000 tpy of ethanol is expected. The production of H₂ will grow according to its demand, up to 20,000 tpy, proportionally reducing the volumes of ethanol. Thanks to NextChem's proprietary technology, developed by its subsidiary MyRechemical, the plant will use 200,000 tons/year of non-recyclable solid waste as raw material, thus also contributing to optimizing the waste treatment cycle in Rome through a conversion process significantly reducing total CO₂ emissions.

The European project also includes a contribution of approximately €4 MM for additional research and development activities in waste-to-H₂ technology, leveraging scientific partners such as Enea, Fondazione Bruno Kessler and La Sapienza University of Rome.

The non-repayable IPCEI grant supports the activities carried out by the parties involved in the implementation of Important Projects of Common European Interest. The Fund, supported by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, will allow Maire Tecnimont Group’s industrial model to become a worldwide best practice for the valorization of waste and the production of hydrogen as well as other chemicals, while significantly reducing CO₂ emissions.

Alessandro Bernini, CEO of Maire Tecnimont Group and of NextChem said, "We are proud of the goal achieved by Maire Tecnimont Group with NextChem, and of the recognition of the industrial and technological skills of our Country by the European Union to develop a low-carbon and low-cost hydrogen economy. This project, which is unique in the world, represents a milestone in the development of technologies combining circular economy and green chemistry. It enables us to act as pioneers in the decarbonization of hard-to-abate industries, with a model that can be replicated in other countries."