Italy Launches LEONE Electrolyzer Optimization Project, Focusing on Cost Reduction and Material Upgrades

Recently, the EU-supported Italian LEONE electrolyzer optimization research project was officially launched. The project has a 30-month implementation period and will carry out collaborative R&D in areas such as electrolyzer manufacturing, advanced materials, industrial automation, and academic research.

The project is led by the manufacturing group Pietro-Fiorentini Group, formally named the “New-type Electrolyzer Optimization (LEONE)” project, with the main objectives of improving the ease of electrolyzer manufacturing and long-term operational capability while reducing equipment dependence on precious metal materials.

In addition to the lead enterprise, Atena, 2RZ, and the University of Padua will also participate in project implementation. The parties will focus on key aspects such as stack components, auxiliary equipment materials, batteries, membranes, and electrode plates, and will regularly report operational progress during the project.

Funding: The LEONE project is included in the Veneto Region's green hydrogen R&D project tender framework with a total amount of 5 million euros (approximately $5.8 million), and receives matching funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the Sustainable Development Home area.

Under Italy’s 2030 hydrogen strategy, the country plans to build 5 GW of electrolysis capacity by 2030 and invest billions of euros in developing industrial clusters known as “hydrogen valleys.” With the transposition of the Renewable Energy Directive III into Italian national law in February 2026, the limited-scale local green hydrogen production is expected to further accelerate.

Gasworld Intelligence data show that although Italy has set a target of achieving annual green hydrogen production exceeding 1,500 mt by 2030, as of February 2026, the country's annual green hydrogen production was only 27 mt. Meanwhile, Italy is one of the few EU member states that have completed the transposition of the directive, although the EU-set official deadline was May 2025.