Port of Savona partners sign MoU for green hydrogen pilot

The Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, Sustainable Intermodal Logistics Association (ALIS), Assocostieri, Edison and FS Logistix have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to assess the use of green hydrogen across port and logistics operations at the Port of Savona, Italy.

Signed on 28 September, the agreement forms part of the energy transition strategy for the Ports of Genoa and will examine the development of an integrated hydrogen supply chain serving both landside and maritime applications.

Hydrogen applications to be assessed at Port of Savona

The project will identify potential hydrogen users across cargo-handling activities and other logistics operations at the port. The partners will also examine possible applications for hydrogen in maritime activities.

The assessment will cover the technical and economic requirements for establishing hydrogen production and distribution infrastructure. This will include permitting procedures, regulatory requirements and safety considerations.

Rail freight operations will also be included in the study, with the partners assessing the potential use of hydrogen-powered solutions for rail activities, including last-mile services.

Port hydrogen infrastructure and testing

The MoU was signed in Savona by Matteo Paroli, President of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority; Fabrizio Mattana, Executive Vice President Gas Asset at Edison; Sabrina De Filippis, CEO of FS Logistix; Antonio Errigo, Vice Director of ALIS; and Dario Soria, Director General of Assocostieri.

Edoardo Rixi, Vice Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, attended the signing ceremony.

Rixi said: “All the conditions are in place for Savona to become a genuine testing ground for the clean energy transition of all Italian ports. Here we are putting hydrogen to the test within a real-world supply chain, combining innovation, logistics and last-mile rail links to enhance the competitiveness of both the port and the wider local industrial community.”

Project to run through 2027

The agreement will remain in force until 31 December 2027. During this period, the partners will develop and test the proposed hydrogen supply chain before assessing whether to proceed with further implementation.

The decision will be based on the project’s technical, financial and regulatory findings.

Matteo Paroli, President of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, said: “Our aim is to take hydrogen beyond the study phase and test it in a real port environment. At the Port of Savona, we have identified a site where the project can be developed, together with a clear roadmap, from design through to testing. We will start by identifying potential users and their effective energy requirements, building the technological solutions to cater for the demand, whilst assessing costs, compliance, safety and performance.

“The ultimate goal is to provide a testbed to establish, in the port sector, whether hydrogen can be effectively deployed, the results it can deliver and under which conditions it can serve the port and maritime logistics daily operations. 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.”