In a major step toward decarbonizing Mediterranean port operations, the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority has joined forces with energy major Edison, logistics group FS Logistix, ALIS, and Assocostieri to launch a comprehensive green hydrogen pilot project at the Port of Savona.
The partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Savona in the presence of Edoardo Rixi, Italy’s Vice Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. The agreement, which runs through December 31, 2027, establishes a multi-year framework to assess, design, and deploy an integrated hydrogen supply chain in a live port environment.
Testing Hydrogen in Real-World Operations
As part of the clean energy transition strategy led by the Ports of Genoa and Savona, the pilot focuses on moving hydrogen beyond laboratory testing into daily industrial use. The initiative targets three primary operational pillars:
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Production and Distribution Infrastructure: Designing the technical and economic layout for localized hydrogen production and refuelling units compliant with maritime safety regulations.
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Cargo and Port Logistics: Mapping energy requirements to replace fossil fuels in heavy cargo-handling machinery and maritime port vessels.
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Last-Mile Rail Freight: Evaluating green hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel for rail freight transport and last-mile port rail connections.
Bridging Innovation and Industrial Scale
The project is designed as a real-world testbed to measure safety, performance, and cost-efficiency before scaling the technology across other Italian maritime hubs.
“All the conditions are in place for Savona to become a genuine testing ground for the clean energy transition of all Italian ports,” said Vice Minister Edoardo Rixi. “Here we are putting hydrogen to the test within a real-world supply chain, combining innovation, logistics, and last-mile rail links to enhance competitiveness.”
Matteo Paroli, President of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, emphasized that the goal is to establish actionable industrial benchmarks. “We will start by identifying potential users and their effective energy requirements, building the technological solutions to cater for the demand,” Paroli noted. “This is how we see the energy transition: not merely as a statement of principles, but as innovation that must be tested, measured and, where successful, scaled up to an industrial level.”
Following the completion of technical and financial assessments in late 2027, the signatories will determine the next commercial phases for full-scale hydrogen deployment at the port.