Clean hydrogen instead of wild wind and photovoltaic. An energy dream within reach for Sardinia that risks clashing with the harsh reality of too much bureaucracy and few resources.

There is no shortage of ideas to create a world-leading island for the production and use of hydrogen; in fact, the eight projects launched so far in the region have been worthy of over 113 million euros in PNRR funding. However, none of these have entered the operational phase.

A stalemate that is paralyzing all of Italy , explains the Agici Observatory on the International Hydrogen Market, with 145 initiatives spread across the country still on paper.

"The biggest obstacle to overcome is the economic one," says Francesco Elia, head of the "Hydrogen Unit" of Agici and one of the coordinators of the observatory . "The two billion euros allocated so far in Italy, although they are a significant amount, are not enough to get the projects off the ground." In short, the numbers don't add up.

Luke Mascia