On July 7, the Center for Sustainable Energy and Funivie Madonna di Campiglio organized a roundtable to discuss with the local stakeholders how to decarbonize the tourism sector in the Alps through hydrogen applications, and to identify the potential for hydrogen development in that area. This initiative was organized in the framework of the AMETHyST project, an Interreg Alpine Space project whose aim is to support the deployment of local Alpine green hydrogen ecosystems to pave the way for a post-carbon lifestyle in the Alps.
Following the presentation of the ski area of Funivie Madonna di Campiglio by general manager Bruno Felicetti, Eleonora Cordioli – researcher at the Centre for Sustainable Energy and WP Leader of AMETHyST – presented the project, Luigi Crema – Director of the Center – gave an overview of the hydrogen strategic role on a European level and researcher Jacopo de Maigret presented currently available hydrogen technologies. The discussion was then opened and highly participated.
The key takeaways from the roundtable discussion were the following:
- The ski area of Madonna di Campiglio holds a key role in potential new hydrogen projects as they have already participated in other R&I projects concerning the application of new technologies to lower their emissions and are engaged in many sustainable activities.
- Local stakeholders confirm a strong interest in new technologies, hydrogen technologies included, that could help decarbonize the tourism sector in the Alps. In particular, hydrogen is seen as a key element to store renewable energy as they see a mismatch between renewable energy production in the summer and a strong energy request during the winter season.
- AMETHyST could provide local stakeholders with a preliminary feasibility study to understand the viability of these hydrogen applications.
If you want to know more about the project, please check the press release in English published last April 24, here: https://magazine.fbk.eu/en/news/amethyst-project-to-develop-local-hydrogen-ecosystems-in-the-alpine-region-kicks-off/ and in Italian: https://magazine.fbk.eu/it/news/al-via-il-progetto-amethyst-per-lo-sviluppo-di-ecosistemi-locali-di-idrogeno-nel-territorio-alpino/
